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| Rex Tillerson (Image: Wikipedia) |
Rex Tillerson, the ExxonMobil chief picked to head the US State Department, has built close ties with leaders around the globe, but most notably -- and controversially -- with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Trained as an engineer, the silver-haired oilman is 64 and has never worked in government, but his global deal-making experience could be an asset in defending US interests.
His close relationship with Putin likely was key to President-elect Donald Trump's choice. Trump is keen to improve ties with Russia which soured greatly when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
But it also will be a key point of contention when Tillerson comes up for confirmation by the Senate, against the backdrop of US intelligence indicating that Russia interfered to try to sway the US election for Trump.
In a statement announcing the nomination, Trump said of Tillerson: "his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none."
The ExxonMobil chief "has had more interactive time with Vladimir Putin than probably any other American with the exception of Henry Kissinger," said John Hamre of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Tillerson is a CSIS trustee.
And if Trump sees Tillerson as dynamic and able to get results, critics from Republican John McCain to environmentalists have a long list of concerns and doubts, including putting an oilman in charge of the US role in global climate change accords.
McCain has said that Tillerson's close ties to Putin were "a matter of concern."
"I'd have to examine it," he said, adding: "Vladimir Putin is a thug, bully and a murderer, and anybody else who describes him as anything else is lying."
Read the full story at SpaceDaily