Pompeo Echoes Reagan’s ‘Peace Through Strength’ Mantra

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
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Pompeo Echoes Reagan’s ‘Peace Through Strength’ Mantra

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the policies of “Make America Great Again” as he spoke Tuesday by video-conference to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He said the Trump administration would echo former President Ronald Reagan’s mantra of “peace through strength” in its dealings with other countries.

“America is committed to helping the Middle East be secure and stable... America will need coalitions built out to ensure that there is Middle East stability,” he said.

He added that Iran is “truly the malign actor” in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He said that a coalition of US allies is “so central” to creating stability in the Middle East.

Commenting on the next round of US-China trade talks, Pompeo said he was optimistic that the Chinese delegation would be well received and both sides would "have a good outcome from those conversations."

"I don't want to get ahead of the conversations and negotiations that are taking place. There is lots of hard work to do. I am very confident that there will be a bright future for the United States and its people, but for the Chinese people as well," he added.

Pompeo called on Moscow to change its "outlook and behavior", and denied Washington had turned isolationist. 

“It should not go unnoticed that we’ve also defeated the ISIS caliphate in Syria and Iraq... There’s a lot more work to do, and with your help, I know we’ll achieve it” he said.

Brazil’s rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro has prompted fresh alarm among environmentalists after stressing that protecting his country’s unique ecosystem has to be consistent with growing the economy.

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab said: "We are at the crossroads of the history of humanity. We now have to shape the future.”

“We feel Globalization 4.0 has to be more human-centered… We are now in some ways in a battle between robots and humankind. We don’t want to become slaves of the new technology,” he continued.



Small Plane Crashes into Brazil Tourist City, Killing at Least 10

A general view shows the site of a plane crash in the center of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Edson Vara
A general view shows the site of a plane crash in the center of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Edson Vara
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Small Plane Crashes into Brazil Tourist City, Killing at Least 10

A general view shows the site of a plane crash in the center of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Edson Vara
A general view shows the site of a plane crash in the center of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Edson Vara

A small plane carrying 10 people crashed into shops in the center of the tourist city of Gramado in southern Brazil on Sunday, killing everyone on board, state government officials said.
The aircraft's owner and pilot, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, died along with the other nine passengers, all of whom were members of his family, according to Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite.
In addition, 17 people on the ground were injured, Leite said at a press conference, with 12 still receiving hospital care, including two in critical condition, Reuters reported.
Manufactured in 1990, the twin-engine Piper PA-42-1000 took off shortly after 9 am local time from nearby Canela airport and was heading to Jundiai in Sao Paulo state under unfavorable weather conditions, the governor said.
He noted that the cause of the crash is being investigated by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa).
The plane reportedly first struck the chimney of a building then the second floor of a house before crashing into a furniture store, authorities said. Debris also reached a nearby inn.
Nestled in a mountainous region, Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely impacted earlier this year by unprecedented floods that claimed dozens of lives, destroyed infrastructure and significantly disrupted the state's economy.