Pompeo opens anti-China, anti-Russia tour in Czech Republic

 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Czech Republic at start of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe expected to focus on threats to region posed by Russia and China.

Amid post-election violence and concerns about significant democratic backsliding in nearby Belarus, Pompeo plans to use his visit to push his hosts to counter Russian and Chinese influence. Russia and China are active and seeking greater roles throughout continent in energy, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors, a trend United States is keen to reverse.

Pompeo on Tuesday was opening his visit in Czech city of Pilsen, where he was to visit Patton Museum and memorial to World War II liberation of western Czechoslovakia by U.S. troops.

In his talks, Pompeo will likely face questions about Trump ministration’s decision to reduce U.S. military presence in Germany . President Donald Trump wants to withdraw thousands of American troops from bases in Germany and redeploy some of m eastward, including to neighboring Poland, last stop on Pompeo’s week-long trip.

Two of Pompeo's or three destinations — Czech Republic and Austria — also share a border with Germany, while Slovakia borders Austria, Czech Republic and Poland. Germany is pointedly t on Pompeo's itinerary.

In Prague on Wednesday, Pompeo will meet Czech President Milos Zeman and Prime Minister Andrej Babis to discuss nuclear energy cooperation and “efforts to counter malign actions of Russia and communist China,” State Department said.

Energy and tenuous political situation in Balkans will top Pompeo’s nda with Slovenian officials in Ljubljana, where he is expected to deliver a statement with foreign minister about security of 5G networks , department said.

In Vienna, Pompeo will meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to review tre relations and regional security. Pompeo will also hold talks with he of Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy ncy, which is charged with monitoring Iran’s herence to 2015 nuclear deal from which U.S. has withdrawn .

Trump ministration is trying to convince or members of U.N. Security Council to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October, under terms of nuclear deal.

In Warsaw, Poland, Pompeo plans talks with President Andrzej Duda, who recently won a narrow reelection after a bitter campaign that concerned human rights vocates and ors.