Pompeo: "Biden Foreign and Security Team Lives in a Fantasy"

"Multilateralism Is for Cocktail Parties"
Nominees for Secretary of State and UN Ambassador Oppose 'Alliance Priority' and 'Multilateralism' Remarks
Transition Process to Begin According to Law

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, strongly criticized President-elect Joe Biden's foreign security team, including Tony Blinken, the nominee for the next Secretary of State.

On the 24th (local time), Secretary Pompeo said in a phone interview with Fox News regarding questions about the next administration's foreign security team, "I know some of them. They have very different views and live in a fantasy."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Secretary Pompeo harshly criticized Biden's foreign policy, which emphasizes multilateralism and strengthening alliances, unlike the Trump administration that emphasized America First and 'top-down' diplomacy.

Secretary Pompeo said, "Their diplomacy started from the bottom and was about appeasing. I hope they choose a different path. It is 2020 now, and it is different from 2015." He claimed that the Trump administration blocked the threat of the Chinese Communist Party, brought peace to the Middle East, and reduced the danger from North Korea through 'top-down' diplomacy.

Nominee Blinken argued in a briefing that "We cannot solve all the world's problems alone. We need to cooperate with other countries," and emphasized, "We will proceed with humility and confidence equally."

Secretary Pompeo also harshly criticized Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, who emphasized multilateralism and said that America is back in her remarks that day.

Secretary Pompeo stated, "Multilateralism is for mingling with friends at a nice cocktail party, but it is not beneficial to America. We work with other countries when we have common interests, and we pursue cooperation that produces results and solidarity that reflects reality."

Secretary Pompeo said he has not spoken with nominee Blinken and will begin the transition process according to the decision of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the law.