WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be in Fairbanks on May 10 and 11 to attend the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting, according to the State Department.
Rumors of Tillerson's attendance — he'll join foreign ministers of other Arctic nations — have swirled for weeks, but the State Department declined to confirm his plans, citing security concerns.
Tillerson will oversee the transfer of the U.S. chairmanship of the council to Finland.
"Representatives from the eight Arctic states will discuss issues of mutual interest and review the accomplishments of the U.S. Arctic Council chairmanship," according to State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
"On the margins of the meeting, Secretary Tillerson will host a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Arctic Council, hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, and meet with U.S. indigenous representatives to the Arctic Council," Nauert said in the press release.