Mike Pompeo, the CIA director nominated to be secretary of state, defended the Trump administration’s efforts to push back on aggression from Russia at his confirmation hearing Thursday while suggesting more sanctions on Moscow are still needed.

It's unclear if Canadian officials suspected that Rex Tillerson was going to lose his job, but Ottawa will now need to adjust to a new face in the U.S. administration's top foreign affairs position.

Mike Pompeo has been tapped by the U.S. president to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.

Trump announced the removal of Tillerson on social media Tuesday morning.

The uncertainty is particularly acute given Washington's leading role in crises in North Korea and Syria.

On Friday, Tillerson smiled and tried to appear unconcerned by the rumors about him.