Rex Tillerson Has Strong Ties to Vladimir Putin
One of Donald Trump’s most steadfast and loyal allies and surrogates, Rudy Giuliani, will not become Secretary of State, despite – or because of – heavily campaigning for the prestigious cabinet position. Giuliani, who once topped the list, has now been dropped from it, according to CNN.
Replacing the former New York City mayor as a top contender to head the State Department is ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson.
Like Trump himself, Tillerson poses an extreme conflict of interest for the administration and the American people. He has strong ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, whose economy is based on oil and gas.
A Tillerson nomination “would introduce the potential for sticky conflicts of interest because of his financial stake in Exxon, which explores for oil and gas on six of the world’s seven continents and has operations in more than 50 countries,” The Wall Street Journal observes. “He owns Exxon shares worth $151 million, according a recent securities filing.”
“He has had more interactive time with Vladimir Putin than probably any other American with the exception of Henry Kissinger,†John Hamre, former deputy defense secretary during the Clinton administration and president of a Washington think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Journal.Â
“In 2011, Mr. Tillerson struck a deal giving Exxon access to prized Arctic resources in Russia as well as allowing Russia’s state oil company, OAO Rosneft, to invest in Exxon concessions all over the world. The following year, the Kremlin bestowed the country’s Order of Friendship decoration on Mr. Tillerson.”
Calling the deal “transformative,” the Journal notes that it was effectively dissolved after the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia. Those sanctions, which Tillerson has publicly opposed, likely will be lifted under President Trump.
Tillerson’s financial holdings shouldn’t be the only concern. Clearly a oil and gas magnate creating and enforcing U.S. foreign policy around the world could easily make those choices through that lens rather than, say, through the lens of human rights or even what’s best for the American people.
UPDATE: 4:25 PM EST –
Trump statement says Giuliani removed his name from consideration late last month:
UPDATE II: 4:47 PM EST –
Oops. Via CNN producer:
Â
Image by premier.gov.ru via Wikimedia and a CC License