Names to Know: Rex Tillerson

Names to Know: Rex Tillerson

by Whitney Ahn

We're back! And just in time for the inauguration of Donald Trump. Regardless of your opinion on him, he still gets to choose who will fill the key roles across government. Because we have a whole new administration of people to look at and analyze, our Names to Know series gives profiles of various major figures in foreign policy and national security, starting with the Trump cabinet and major advisors. Editor-in-Chief Whitney Ahn has begun our Names to Know series with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson.

        Rex Tillerson is the CEO of ExxonMobil, and Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State. Donald Trump's press releases suggest the primary reason for selecting Mr. Tillerson for this key diplomatic role, despite his utter lack of policy-making experience, is his extensive role in making foreign deals, in places such as Iran, Syria, and Russia, all of which the United States clearly has interests in (with regards to nuclear weapons, ISIS, and Ukraine).

       These deals also have lead to relationships with foreign nations that some describe as troubling, especially Russia. In 2013, Vladimir Putin awarded Tillerson the Order of Friendship, the highest civilian honor Russia gives. Tillerson also has a personal friendship with Igor Sechin, the man who makes the Kremlin's military policy and the second-most powerful man in Russia. His third tie to the former Soviet nation is his ownership of $15,000 worth of stock in the Russian technology company Yandex, which he would likely have to sell upon or prior to confirmation.

       Tillerson also has relationships with Africa and the Middle East. ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Infimum, made 53.2 million dollars in Iran, 1.1 million dollars in Syria, and .6 million dollars in Sudan, from 2003-2005. In 2011, in direct violation of Iraqi law (at this point Iraq was not yet a failed state), Tillerson signed a deal with Iraqi Kurdistan. America has a strong relationship with the Kurds, but a key ally in the region, Turkey, does not. In fact, some have argued (myself included) that Turkey is more focused on defeating the Kurdish rebel groups in Iraq and Syria than ISIS. Strong relationships with the Kurds would likely upset the Turkish government, without a delicate touch and strong negotiation skills.

       Tillerson and Trump have serious policy differences on a number of issues. For example, he said in a confirmation hearing on January 11th that the United States should take strong actions to deter Russia from further expansion in Ukraine, and that Barack Obama did not go far enough in his initial reactions. He also said that is a "fair assumption" that Putin was aware of Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 American presidential election. Both of these are sharp breaks from Donald Trump's policy of a cozier relationship with both Russia and Vladimir Putin specifically. However, Tillerson would not say whether or not he believes Vladimir Putin is a war criminal when pressed by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). Unlike Donald Trump, Tillerson does not believe climate change is hoax, but also thinks that scientific ability to predict its effects are highly limited. Again breaking from Trump's general patterns, given that Trump has made a series of comments many in Mexico's government have found offensive, Tillerson praised Mexico, calling the nation "a long-standing... friend of" the United States. Prior to the Senate committee hearing, Tillerson publicly expressed support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, whereas Donald Trump built his campaign around vitriol against trade agreements like the TPP.

       Despite the many concerns about Tillerson, he has received endorsements from an impressive number of major American foreign policy officials, such as former Secretary of State James Baker, who said he had the "management and negotiation skills, and... the international experience" necessary for the job. Former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley called it a "strong choice", and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it an "excellent choice". Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he has "vast knowledge" and experience dealing with "governments and leaders in every corner of the world," and he also received endorsements from former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Charles, Suzanne Maloney (of the notoriously liberal-leaning Brookings Institute), and Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint.
       Trump's nominee faces an unusually steep pathway to confirmation, more than likely will be the next American Secretary of State. The policies he will implement are largely mysteries. No one really knows how the policies he advocated for, to benefit ExxonMobil, will impact the policies he will advocate for, to benefit America. One thing is clear: If he can separate himself fully from the interests of Exxon and only focus on the interest of America, we will have a powerful advocate. If not, except America's global standing to fall. Now, it's Congress' turn to decide if the great risk is worth the great reward.