Pompeo arrives in Brussels for first overseas trip as secretary of State

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Brussels late Thursday for his first overseas trip in his new post just hours after being confirmed by the Senate.

Pompeo is set to meet with various NATO leaders and his European counterparts in Belgium before setting off for a Middle East tour that includes a stop in Israel.

The secretary of State is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and French Political Director Nicolas de Riviere during his visit to Belgium.

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Pompeo, who has served as President Trump’s CIA director, was confirmed by senators on Thursday in a 57-42 vote following steep opposition from Democrats.

Trump took to Twitter earlier this year to announce Pompeo as his pick  to replace Rex Tillerson as the nation’s top diplomat.

Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018

Pompeo appeared to be working in his new diplomatic capacity before he was confirmed, taking a secret trip to North Korea over Easter weekend to meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a possible meeting between Trump and Kim.

The White House on Thursday released photos of Pompeo’s meeting with Kim, showing the pair shaking hands. 

JUST RELEASED: Photos of Secretary of State Pompeo in North Korea. Secretary Pompeo will do an excellent job helping President Trump lead our efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. pic.twitter.com/pQ0P8hbMTN

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2018