Tillerson's State Department Is Adrift, Say Diplomats [View all]

[DonViejo]

SEP 18 2017, 6:57 PM ET
by VIVIAN SALAMA

WASHINGTON — On his first day as Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson vowed to try to get to know everyone at the State Department. But senior diplomats say they never saw him again.

As President Donald Trump faces a collection of world leaders at his first United Nations General Assembly this week, U.S. officials are working behind the scenes to allay fears among foreign delegations that America's foreign policy decisions have become too dominated by the West Wing, and that the U.S. State Department, where many crucial positions remain unfilled, is adrift.

At the center of this concern is Tillerson, whose diminishing role in the administration is being blamed for the State Department's lagging clout, according to seven U.S. diplomats and four foreign diplomats who spoke to NBC News. The officials insisted on anonymity to discuss the administration's internal dynamics.

Three senior State Department officials told NBC News that there a number of meetings with foreign delegations at this week's UNGA that Tillerson either ignored or refused to attend, forcing either Vice President Mike Pence or U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to step in.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/tillerson-s-state-department-adrift-say-diplomats-n802316