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5d ago

Rubio Seeks to Cement ASEAN Ties in Kuala Lumpur Ahead of Trump Tariffs

He is holding a rare face-to-face meeting with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov to press for progress on negotiating peace in Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends an interview after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, , U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers remarks at a meeting of the Indo-Pacific Quad at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio deplanes upon arrival at Subang Air Base, outside of Kuala Lumpur on July 10, 2025. Rubio arrived in Kuala Lumpur to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Overview

  • Rubio met with foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN bloc in Kuala Lumpur to reassure them of U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
  • He held a sideline meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to advance discussions on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
  • U.S. officials highlighted security cooperation on the South China Sea and efforts to combat transnational crime as key agenda items.
  • President Trump’s tariffs, set to hit six ASEAN members from August 1, have unsettled partners dependent on exports to the U.S.
  • Rubio and experts emphasised that the United States remains a more reliable partner than China in countering Beijing’s diplomatic and economic offensive.