Pompeo to visit Israel, Saudi, Jordan on first trip as chief diplomat

Newly sworn in US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will head from this week's NATO meeting in Brussels directly on to high level talks in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, his spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Speaking on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews in front of the secretary's government jet as he arrived from his Supreme Court swearing-in, Heather Nauert said the stops were chosen to reflect their "importance as key allies and partners in the region."

The announcement came on the same day the much-disputed secretary of state nominee won the approval of the US Senate, allowing him to be officially sworn in.

US President Trump subsequently made a statement praising his long-time aide's appointment.

"Having a patriot of Mike's immense talent, energy and intellect leading the Department of State will be an incredible asset for our country at this critical time in history," Trump said.

"He will always put the interests of America first. He has my trust. He has my support."

The appointment of Pompeo faced much opposition from the US Democrats and the wider international community, due to the former congressman's hardliner reputation as well as a record of anti-Muslim and homophobic statements.

Opponents fear the former CIA director's brash and confrontational approach may endanger fragile diplomatic matters such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Syrian conflict.

Pompeo narrowly scraped through the Senate's first panel, the foreign affairs committee, with a vote of 11-9. If it weren't for a dramatic U-turn from renegade Republican Senator Rand Paul, Pompeo would have become the first secretary of state-nominee on record to be rejected by the committee.