Pompeo Middle East Trip: US Secretary of State visits Saudi Arabia, Israel & Jordan

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02:24

Just one day after being sworn-in as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo is making his first trip to the Middle East. Some key events in the coming weeks could push the region closer to the edge. CGTN's Toby Muse reports.

On Saturday, newly installed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Saudi Arabia, as he embarks on his first tour of the Middle East as the U.S. leading diplomat. He met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Pompeo is due to travel to Israel and Jordan for further talks aimed at strengthening alliances in the region. Pompeo, a former director of the CIA, has a number of challenges.

The first is whether the U.S. will remain in the Iran nuclear deal ahead of the May 12th deadline for Washington to renew sanctions relief on Tehran. Pompeo will be discussing ways to change the Iran deal to the U.S.'s liking as he tours the Middle East. But he's also been clear that if President Donald Trump doesn't get the changes he wants, he'll withdraw from the deal.

MIKE POMPEO US SECRETARY OF STATE "Absent a substantial fix, absent overcoming the shortcomings, the flaws of the deal, he is unlikely to stay in that deal past this May."

Iran is just one of his challenges. Also in May, two days after the Iran decision, the U.S. will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, likely angering Palestinians and others across the Middle East.

Tillerson at State Dept Pompeo also takes over a demoralized State Department. His predecessor Rex Tillerson oversaw a major reduction in staff. The American Foreign Service Association says sixty percent of State's top-ranking career diplomats resigned during Tillerson's tenure and new applications to join the foreign service were halved.

Pompeo has said that he wants to strengthen the State Department.

TOBY MUSE WASHINGTON "And finally, American allies will be calling for greater clarity on the U.S. policy to Syria. Trump has said that he wants the U.S. out of the country as soon as ISIL is destroyed. Toby Muse, CGTN, Washington."