China is a "strategic competitor" to the United States, while Russia poses a challenge to America's strategic interests globally, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today.
Appearing before a Congressional panel, Pompeo told lawmakers that President Donald Trump is committed to diplomacy as the primary means of achieving the US' foreign policy objectives.
Pressing the House Foreign Affairs Committee to approve USD 39.3 billion annual budget of the State Department, Pompeo said that the US must exert a proportional financial commitment in the pursuit of goals shared by the international community.
"It is time for other nations especially those with high gross domestic product (GDP) to assume greater responsibilities and devote greater resources toward common objectives, whether it's crushing terrorists, stopping Iran's malign behaviour, strengthening the NATO alliance, eradicating infectious diseases, and so much more," he said.
The Trump Administration expects greater burden sharing for its allies and partners, the former CIA chief said.
Russia, he also told the lawmakers, "poses a challenge to our strategic interests" and the security of US allies.
"This is evident from the chemical weapons attack in the UK, for which we imposed consequences in concert with several partners and allies. We've been clear with Russia, it must honour its commitments under the Minsk Accords if peace is to prevail in Ukraine," he said.
As a guarantor of the Assad regime, Russia has a responsibility to be a constructive actor for stability and peace in Syria, which includes stopping the regime's use of chemical weapons, he said. "We are holding Russia accountable to its commitment to the Geneva process."
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