Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
State Department pushes back against criticism of media access
The State Department is pushing back against criticism from former senior officials and journalists over the lack of press conferences and other media access at the department since Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was sworn in three weeks ago. Published February 23, 2017
Donald Trump’s plan for ‘safe zones’ for Syrian refugees opposed by Turkey
President Trump's vision of "safe zones" for refugees fleeing the brutal violence of Syria's civil war is running into opposition from a key ally, Turkey, which is warning that the U.S.-protected areas will become havens for Kurdish militant movements that have long battled Ankara. The dispute widens deep-seated resentments between two key allies that the U.S. is relying on in the final battle to defeat the Islamic State in Syria. Published February 22, 2017
State Department vacancies highlight Trump administration’s growing pains
Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson heads to Mexico City for a delicate diplomatic mission Wednesday, but he is going at a moment of tremendous uncertainty back at the office, where more than dozen key assistant secretary positions are still without even a proposed nominee from the White House. Published February 21, 2017
David Friedman, pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel, pleads mea culpa for disparaging statements
President Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel apologized for disparaging statements he's made about Palestinians, liberal American Jews and others during a tense confirmation hearing Thursday, as the administration sent out new mixed signals on its approach to Mideast peace. Published February 16, 2017
Donald Trump, U.S. intel battle after Michael Flynn ouster leaving allies around world unnerved
The Trump White House and the U.S. intelligence community moved closer to open warfare in the wake of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's spectacular downfall -- and the fallout is unnerving key American intelligence partners around the world, according to several high-level national security sources. Published February 15, 2017
Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela vice president, rejects U.S. ‘drug kingpin’ sanctions
Venezuela's vice president defiantly rejected U.S. sanctions identifying him as a major international "drug kingpin" Tuesday, as the White House revealed details about its first major action against the leftist South American government that President Trump vowed to get tough on during his election campaign. Published February 14, 2017
Benjamin Netanyahu to see policy shift with Donald Trump in White House
Perhaps no event better illustrates the foreign policy shift in Washington than the reception Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will get when he arrives Wednesday for his first U.S. visit since the election of Donald Trump. Published February 13, 2017
North Korea missile launch leaves Donald Trump cautious in response
The Trump administration responded cautiously Sunday to North Korea's test launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea off the isolated nation's east coast in Pyongyang's first major provocation since President Trump took office last month. Published February 12, 2017
North Korea test fires ballistic missile; Japan, South Korea condemn launch
In its first major provocation since Donald Trump became president, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile early Sunday into the sea off its east coast, prompting swift condemnations from South Korea and Japan. Published February 11, 2017
Bashar Assad on Donald Trump’s proposed ‘safe zones’ for Syria: ‘It’s not a realistic idea at all’
Syrian President Bashar Assad is rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the creation of "safe zones" inside Syria for refugees fleeing violence in the war-torn nation. Published February 10, 2017
John Nicholson: Russian involvement in Afghanistan becoming ‘more difficult’
Russia, Pakistan and Iran are working to "legitimize and support" the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to the top U.S. military commander in the war zone, who told lawmakers Thursday that thousands more American or NATO troops are needed to break the "stalemate" between Afghan forces and the insurgent group while the Islamic State also remains active in the nation. Published February 9, 2017
Federica Mogherini, EU chief, faces headwinds in first visit to Donald Trump’s Washington
Compared to warm receptions she enjoyed during the Obama years, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini may face a much chillier welcome when she arrives Thursday for her first visit to Washington since Donald Trump became president. Published February 9, 2017
Donald Trump ready to approve weapons packages to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain that Obama blocked
The Trump administration is poised to move quickly to approve major weapons packages for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain that President Obama blocked during his final months in office over human rights concerns in both nations, U.S. officials and congressional sources say. Published February 7, 2017
Donald Trump slaps sanctions on Iran over missile test
The Trump administration hit Iran with new sanctions Friday, one day after President Trump said he had put Tehran "on notice" for testing a missile. Published February 3, 2017
Iran defies Trump’s threat on missiles, puts U.S. on notice
Iranian officials responded defiantly Thursday to the Trump administration's threat to take a much tougher line over Tehran's ballistic missile tests and support for terrorism-related activities, as the White House reportedly was preparing a slate of new sanctions against the Islamic republic as early as Friday. Published February 2, 2017
Rex Tillerson arrives as ‘the new guy’ at the State Department
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought to win the support of an uneasy State Department Thursday, asserting on arrival at department headquarters that he holds the nation's career diplomats in "high regard" and will treat them with "respect" as President Trump's top foreign policy adviser. Published February 2, 2017
Rex Tillerson confirmed as secretary of state by Senate
The Senate voted 56-43 to confirm Mr. Tillerson as the nation's 69th secretary of state on Wednesday, with Republicans picking up three Democratic votes to pierce the minority's hoped-for united front against the former ExxonMobil CEO. Published February 1, 2017
Trump’s extreme vetting condemned by world leaders, Muslim nations
President Trump's executive order on immigration and temporary ban on visas for some Muslim-majority countries is meeting with rising condemnation from leaders in Europe, Africa and the Islamic world. Published January 31, 2017
Pentagon, State Department scramble to fill in Donald Trump’s ISIS warplan
President Trump's demand for a new plan to defeat the Islamic State has triggered a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity at the Pentagon, where officials are poised to propose a dramatic increase in airstrikes against the jihadi group. Published January 31, 2017
Donald Trump’s extreme vetting condemned by world leaders, Muslim nations
President Trump's executive order on immigration and temporary ban on visas for some Muslim-majority countries is meeting with rising condemnation from leaders in Europe, Africa and the Islamic world. Published January 31, 2017