(Photo: Reuters) 

Washington (People's Daily) - The US Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as the next secretary of state with a 57-42 vote Thursday afternoon.

As reported by the New York Times, Pompeo is expected to be sworn in immediately. He then plans to go to Joint Base Andrews to catch a plane for Brussels to meet with NATO allies. This will be his first trip abroad as secretary of state.

After Pompeo's vote, the Senate is expected to vote on whether Richard Grenell will be the next US Ambassador to Germany. Grenell's nomination is a priority as German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to visit Washington on Friday.