Rex Tillerson: Trump's secretary of state squeezes past Senate panel

A US Senate panel has narrowly approved the appointment of Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, despite concerns over his stance on human rights and links to Vladimir Putin.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted through the former ExxonMobil CEO by 11 to 10, setting up a full vote in the Republican-controlled chamber.

It came as the Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as the new director of the CIA , following questions over the former military man's approach to torture, surveillance and Russia.

Mr Tillerson's panel approval was pushed through by fellow Republicans, as every Democrat voted against his appointment. Since 1977, no other nominee has received more than two objections from the committee.

Senator Ben Cardin said that during Mr Tillerson's confirmation hearing a fortnight ago , Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state repeatedly prioritised "narrow business interests" ahead of "core national security interests."

He added: "I believe Mr Tillerson's demonstrated business orientation... could compromise his ability as secretary of state to forcefully promote the values and ideals that have defined our country and our leading role in the world for more than 200 years."

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Prior to the vote, which was briefly interrupted by anti-war activists, Republican senator Marco Rubio said he would back Mr Tillerson's appointment despite concerns over his views on human rights and Russia.

Mr Tillerson first met Mr Putin in the 1990s while supervising an Exxon project on the Russian island of Sakhalin. In 2013, the former oil chief was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship.

Mr Rubio, who ran against the President for the Republican presidential nomination, said that due to the "uncertainty" over US foreign policy "it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy".

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With Mr Pompeo's confirmation, Mr Trump has three members of his cabinet now in office.

On Monday, defence secretary James Mattis told NATO allies that Washington had an "unshakeable commitment" to the military alliance.

Mr Trump previously claimed NATO was "obsolete" and complained several nations do not contribute their share financially.

However, the Pentagon said Mr Mattis spoke to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg about "the key role NATO plays in transatlantic security".