Tillerson reportedly considers rare trip to Lebanon
US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster is also expected to travel to Turkey in the coming days as part of a larger push by the Trump administration to rehabilitate ties with Ankara.
By MICHAEL WILNERUpdated: FEBRUARY 8, 2018 02:18United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (photo credit: REUTERS/ALEX BRANDON/POOL)
WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is considering a visit to Beirut during his tour of the region next week.Acting Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs David Satterfield visited Lebanon in recent days to lay the groundwork for Tillerson’s visit. The last time a US secretary of state visited Beirut was in 2014 when John Kerry held the post.Tillerson’s travel will also include stopovers in Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt, according to the UAE-based National.US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster is also expected to travel to Turkey in the coming days as part of a larger push by the Trump administration to rehabilitate ties with Ankara, currently strained over military disagreements in northern Syria.Tillerson is not expected to stop in Israel during this trip, although his visit to Beirut will likely focus on rising tensions on the Israel- Lebanon border.
