



Donald Trump confirms Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State despite links to Russia's Putin

Oil tycoon holds stakes worth billions of dollars in Russian energy industry



Donald Trump has formally nominated Rex Tillerson, CEO of oil and gas multinational ExxonMobil, as his Secretary of State.



Mr Tillerson, 64, emerged as Mr Trump's top pick for the position despite significant criticism for his apparent ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.



The President-elect made his choice on Monday morning, reported the New York Times.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Trump said the businessman's "tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State".



"He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States,” Trump said, according to his transition team.



The US Senate needs to approve Mr Tillerson's nomination before he can assume the position, raising the possibility of a confirmation fight sparked by Democrats and some Republicans alarmed by the businessman's good relationship with Mr Putin.



Mr Tillerson's experience in diplomacy stems from making deals with foreign countries for America's largest energy company, which has operations in dozens of countries, some of them politically volatile or estranged from the US.



Russia has leaned heavily on Western companies for technology and know-how to tap its vast oil and gas resources.



Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, has been named the new US Secretary of State (Rex Features)

According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Tillerson negotiated an energy partnership with Russia believed to be valued at approximately $500bn (£394bn) in 2011.



The following year, the Kremlin awarded Mr Tillerson the Order of Friendship, the country's highest honour for foreign nationals.



Trump picks man honoured by Putin as Secretary of State

Mr Tillerson, from Wichita Falls in Texas, has argued against sanctions that the US and European allies imposed on Russia after it annexed the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.



He also has backed free trade and an expansive US presence in the Middle East, stances at odds with the more isolationist approach Mr Trump has pitched to his supporters.



The career Exxon employee joined the company after graduating from the University of Texas in 1975 with an engineering degree.



He spent years in oil production, working in Exxon's central US, Yemen and Russian operations, and was groomed for an executive position.



“[Mr Tillerson] will be a forceful and clear-eyed advocate for America's vital national interests, and help reverse years of misguided foreign policies and actions that have weakened America's security and standing in the world,” Mr Trump said in his statement.



Mr Tillerson said he shared the President-elect's “vision for restoring the credibility of the United States' foreign relations and advancing our country's national security.”



In a tweet, Mr Trump added: "I have chosen one of the truly great business leaders of the world, Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, to be Secretary of State."



The CIA recently concluded with “high confidence” that Russia sought to influence the US election on behalf of Trump, raising red flags among lawmakers concerned about the sanctity of the voting system and potentially straining relations at the start of Trump's administration.



Independent







Perhaps Tillerson could be put in charge of the hacking probe. Trump has chosen Tillerson for State:Perhaps Tillerson could be put in charge of the hacking probe.

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While I support the impeachment of Salvador Allende, no executive Presidencies, proportional representation and short fixed term parliaments would have been preferable.