Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Rex Tillerson takes no questions; State Dept. postpones press briefings again
The State Department postponed a highly anticipated news briefing Monday, telling reporters it would not be held because Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other administration officials were appearing before media at the roll out of President Trump's revised executive order temporarily banning visitors from six Mideast and African countries. Published March 6, 2017
Tokyo says North Korea missile tests show ‘new level of threat’
North Korea's test launch of four ballistic missiles Monday -- three of which crashed into the Sea of Japan -- prompted a swift and harsh reaction from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who said the development showed that Pyongyang now represents a "a new level of threat" to Tokyo and the world. Published March 6, 2017
Rex Tillerson faces heat as State Department issues annual human rights report
A major review published by the State Department on Friday cited serious "human rights problems" in North Korea, Iran, Russia, China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Turkey and a host of other nations -- including many with close economic and military ties to Washington. Published March 3, 2017
Islamic State video shows Uighur training in Iraq, hints at terrorism in China
An Islamic State propaganda video circulated this week shows ethnic Uighur fighters training in Iraq and vowing to carry out horrific attacks in their Chinese homeland — the latest sign that the terrorist group hopes to expand operations into East Asia as it loses territory in the Middle East and North Africa. Published March 2, 2017
Rex Tillerson holds Iran deal talks with IAEA chief
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held private talks with head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency Thursday in the first direct meeting between the outfit monitoring the Iranian nuclear accord and a senior official from the Trump administration, which has been sharply critical of the 2015 deal. Published March 2, 2017
NATO defense funds not ‘pouring in’ as Donald Trump claims
President Trump may have pleased European allies with a full-throated defense of NATO in his speech to Congress on Tuesday night, but he also raised eyebrows by claiming his own criticism of the alliance has paid off because money is now "pouring in" from member nations to increase their own military budgets. Published March 1, 2017
John Kerry joins Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Former Secretary of State John F. Kerry has joined the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as its "inaugural visiting distinguished statesman, the global think tank said Wednesday. Published March 1, 2017
Dan Coats promises tough line on Russia as intelligence chief
President Trump's nominee to oversee the U.S. intelligence community said Tuesday an aggressive Russia is one of the top threats facing the country, promising lawmakers he would provide any information Congress seeks in its probe of Moscow's suspected interference in last year's presidential election. Published February 28, 2017
Donald Trump, China discuss strong response to North Korea
China's recent move to cut coal imports from North Korea triggered a biting reaction from Pyongyang, but it may fall far short of the tough measures Washington has called for from Beijing, as pressure mounts on President Trump to deliver on his promise to deal "very strongly" with North Korea. Published February 27, 2017
State Department pushes back against criticism of media access
The State Department is pushing back against criticism from former senior officials and journalists over the lack of press conferences and other media access at the department since Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was sworn in three weeks ago. Published February 23, 2017
Donald Trump’s plan for ‘safe zones’ for Syrian refugees opposed by Turkey
President Trump's vision of "safe zones" for refugees fleeing the brutal violence of Syria's civil war is running into opposition from a key ally, Turkey, which is warning that the U.S.-protected areas will become havens for Kurdish militant movements that have long battled Ankara. The dispute widens deep-seated resentments between two key allies that the U.S. is relying on in the final battle to defeat the Islamic State in Syria. Published February 22, 2017
State Department vacancies highlight Trump administration’s growing pains
Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson heads to Mexico City for a delicate diplomatic mission Wednesday, but he is going at a moment of tremendous uncertainty back at the office, where more than dozen key assistant secretary positions are still without even a proposed nominee from the White House. Published February 21, 2017
David Friedman, pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel, pleads mea culpa for disparaging statements
President Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel apologized for disparaging statements he's made about Palestinians, liberal American Jews and others during a tense confirmation hearing Thursday, as the administration sent out new mixed signals on its approach to Mideast peace. Published February 16, 2017
Donald Trump, U.S. intel battle after Michael Flynn ouster leaving allies around world unnerved
The Trump White House and the U.S. intelligence community moved closer to open warfare in the wake of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's spectacular downfall -- and the fallout is unnerving key American intelligence partners around the world, according to several high-level national security sources. Published February 15, 2017
Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela vice president, rejects U.S. ‘drug kingpin’ sanctions
Venezuela's vice president defiantly rejected U.S. sanctions identifying him as a major international "drug kingpin" Tuesday, as the White House revealed details about its first major action against the leftist South American government that President Trump vowed to get tough on during his election campaign. Published February 14, 2017
Benjamin Netanyahu to see policy shift with Donald Trump in White House
Perhaps no event better illustrates the foreign policy shift in Washington than the reception Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will get when he arrives Wednesday for his first U.S. visit since the election of Donald Trump. Published February 13, 2017
North Korea missile launch leaves Donald Trump cautious in response
The Trump administration responded cautiously Sunday to North Korea's test launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea off the isolated nation's east coast in Pyongyang's first major provocation since President Trump took office last month. Published February 12, 2017
North Korea test fires ballistic missile; Japan, South Korea condemn launch
In its first major provocation since Donald Trump became president, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile early Sunday into the sea off its east coast, prompting swift condemnations from South Korea and Japan. Published February 11, 2017
Bashar Assad on Donald Trump’s proposed ‘safe zones’ for Syria: ‘It’s not a realistic idea at all’
Syrian President Bashar Assad is rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the creation of "safe zones" inside Syria for refugees fleeing violence in the war-torn nation. Published February 10, 2017
John Nicholson: Russian involvement in Afghanistan becoming ‘more difficult’
Russia, Pakistan and Iran are working to "legitimize and support" the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to the top U.S. military commander in the war zone, who told lawmakers Thursday that thousands more American or NATO troops are needed to break the "stalemate" between Afghan forces and the insurgent group while the Islamic State also remains active in the nation. Published February 9, 2017