Pompeo Cancels Final Overseas Tour Announcement One Day Before Scheduled Date

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[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has canceled his previously announced visit to Belgium. This is interpreted as being due to overlapping concerns such as the impeachment of President Donald Trump and fears of violence related to the inauguration ceremony.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the 12th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced the cancellation of all overseas trips by State Department officials. Secretary Pompeo's schedule was also included in the cancellations.

The Associated Press reported that this decision was made less than 24 hours after Pompeo announced his visit to Brussels, Belgium.

Secretary Pompeo was scheduled to visit Belgium on the 13th. He planned to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Belgian leaders.

This visit by Secretary Pompeo was to be his last overseas trip before the end of the Trump administration's term.

Various interpretations have emerged regarding this measure. One interpretation is that it was difficult for the Secretary of State to be absent during the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Trump. There is also the judgment that it was hard for him to be away amid concerns about potential violence ahead of President Biden's inauguration on the 20th.

Secretary Pompeo had also planned a visit to South Korea last October but canceled it due to President Trump's COVID-19 infection.

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