Rubio Meets Russia's Lavrov At ASEAN Talks
Rubio's first visit to Asia as secretary of state also comes as US President Donald Trump ramps up his trade war, threatening more than 20 countries with punitive tariffs.
The top US diplomat met Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a gathering of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur.
Their meeting got underway hours after Russia hammered Ukraine's capital Kyiv early Thursday with its second large-scale drone and missile barrage in as many nights, killing at least two people, authorities said.
It follows Donald Trump's recent expletive-filled comments about Vladimir Putin -- reflecting the US president's growing frustration with the Russian leader over the grinding war.
Trump accused Putin of talking "bullshit" about Ukraine, saying that the United States would send Kyiv more weapons to defend itself.
Rubio and Lavrov last met in February in Saudi Arabia, following a rapprochement between Trump and Putin. The two diplomats have also spoken multiple times by phone.
After Malaysia, Lavrov will visit North Korea this weekend, the latest in a series of high-profile visits by top Moscow officials as the two countries deepen military ties.
Pyongyang has emerged as one of the Kremlin's main allies during its Ukraine invasion, sending thousands of troops to Russia's Kursk region to oust Kyiv's forces and providing the Russian army with artillery shells and missiles.
US officials said ahead of Rubio's trip that Washington was "prioritising" its commitment to East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Speaking in Malaysia, Rubio said the United States has "no intention of abandoning" the region.
But his visit comes after Trump threatened more than 20 countries, many in Asia, with tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent, and announced a 50 percent toll on copper imports and a possible 200 percent duty on pharmaceuticals.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned Asia's top diplomats on Wednesday of a new era when tariffs are among the "sharpened instruments of geopolitical rivalry".
Trump said Monday that duties he had suspended in April would snap back -- even more steeply -- on August 1.
Among those targeted were top trade partners Japan and South Korea, which each face 25 percent tariffs.
Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Myanmar -- all members of ASEAN -- face duties ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent if they do not strike deals with Washington by Trump's new deadline.
The levels were not too far from those originally threatened in April, although some rates were notably lower this time.
Vietnam, which is also an ASEAN member, is one of only two countries -- Britain being the other -- to have reached a tentative agreement with Trump.
In Malaysia, Rubio will attend a post-ministerial conference and a meeting by East Asian foreign ministers -- which will also see Japan, South Korea and China participating.
He will also meet with Anwar and hold trilateral talks with the Philippines and Japan.
Rubio's Chinese counterpart Wang Yi is also at ASEAN, but details of any meeting between the pair have not been announced.
The superpowers remain locked in a range of disputes on issues from trade and fentanyl, to Taiwan and cutting-edge technology.
Without mentioning the United States, Wang on Thursday called for a "fairer and more reasonable" international order. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) meets with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
39 minutes ago
- Int'l Business Times
'Inexcusable' Failures Led To Trump Assassination Attempt: Senate Report
A congressional inquiry into the attempt to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally a year ago on Sunday lamented "inexcusable" failures in the Secret Service's operations and response, and called for more serious disciplinary action. On July 13, 2024, a gunman shot the then-Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. One bystander was killed and two other people in addition to Trump were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks. "What happened was inexcusable and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation," said the report released by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The dramatic incident energized Trump's bid to return to the White House, with his campaign using a photo of him bloodied and pumping his fist as he was hurried offstage to woo voters. The report did not shed new light on the gunman's motive, which still remains a mystery, but accused the Secret Service of "a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life." "The United States Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence, failed to coordinate with local law enforcement," said the committee's Republican chairman Rand Paul. "Despite those failures, no one has been fired," he added. "It was a complete breakdown of security at every level--fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats. "We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again." The Secret Service cited communication, technical and human errors and said reforms were underway, including on coordination between different law enforcement bodies and establishment of a division dedicated to aerial surveillance. Six unidentified staff have been disciplined, according to the agency. The punishments range from 10 to 42 days' suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or non-operational positions. Reflecting on the assassination attempt earlier this week, Trump said "mistakes were made" but that he was satisfied with the investigation. In an interview with his daughter-in-law on Fox News' "My View with Lara Trump," Trump said the sniper "was able to get him from a long distance with one shot. If he didn't do that, you would have had an even worse situation." "It was unforgettable," Trump said of the events. "I didn't know exactly what was going on. I got whacked. There's no question about that. And fortunately, I got down quickly. People were screaming." Then-US Republican candidate Donald Trump with blood on his ear, surrounded by Secret Service agents, after the assassination attempt in 2024 AFP
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
Ukraine updates: Russia seizes more territory in Donetsk – DW – 07/13/2025
Moscow's defense ministry said it had captured Myrne, calling the village by its Soviet name "Karl Marx." Ukraine has "eliminated" two people said to be behind the killing of a secret service officer. DW has more. Russia has captured another village in Ukraine's Donetsk region as it continues to intensify its offensive. Meanwhile, North Korea's Kim Jong Un has offered his "unconditional support." Elsewhere, Ukraine has "eliminated" a man and a woman said to be responsible for the killing of an SBU secret service officer in has "eliminated" a man and a woman said to be responsible for the killing of an SBU secret service officer in Kyiv. The two suspects were working on behalf of Russia. Their hideout was found as part of investigations, Vasyl Malyuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said in a video clip on Telegram. "They resisted arrest, a firefight ensued, and the criminals were eliminated," Malyuk said. At the end of the video, two dead bodies are seen behind the officer. The development comes after an SBU officer was shot dead in Kyiv on Thursday. He is said to have been behind acts of sabotage in Russia. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the port city of Wonsan, offering Moscow "unconditional support." The meeting came as analysts suggest North Korea will send more troops to fight alongside Russia amid its offensive against Ukraine. Read here for more details. Russia said Sunday that it had seized another village in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Moscow's offensive on Ukraine has lasted for more than three years, with the attacks being ramped up of late, while US-led peace negotiations have yet to yield any results. Russia's defense ministry said Moscow troops had captured Myrne, calling the village by its Soviet name "Karl Marx." The defense ministry claimed forces had moved "deep into the enemy's defense" as it seized the village. Russia has so far rejected a ceasefire proposed by the United States and Ukraine. Donald Trump has regularly boasted about being the one who can bring about peace in Ukraine. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. Russia says it has taken another village in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Meanwhile, North Korea's Kim Jong Un has hailed his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying that Pyongyang offers its "unconditional support" to Moscow as it continues its offensive against Ukraine.
Int'l Business Times
3 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
EU Chief Delays Retaliation For US Tariffs In Search Of Deal
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday that Brussels will continue to hold off on hitting back at US steel and aluminium tariffs, as it seeks a deal to avoid broader 30-percent levies. US President Donald Trump on Saturday threw months of painstaking negotiations into disarray by announcing he would hammer the 27-nation bloc with the sweeping tariffs if no agreement is reached by August 1. "The United States has sent us a letter with measures that would come into effect unless there is a negotiated solution, so we will therefore also extend the suspension of our countermeasures until early August," von der Leyen told journalists. "At the same time, we will continue to prepare for the countermeasures so we're fully prepared," she added. The European Commission president insisted that the European Union has "always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case, and we will use the time that we have now till August 1". The move by von der Leyen will spur hope that Trump's latest threat -- in which he also targeted Mexico -- has not killed off the progress made in negotiations so far between Brussels and Washington. The European Union's current suspension of its retaliation over US steel and aluminium tariffs had been set to expire overnight Monday to Tuesday. Brussels has readied duties on US goods worth around 21 billion euros ($24 billion) in response to the levies Trump slapped on metal imports earlier this year. But it announced in April it was holding off on those measures to give space to find a broader trade agreement with the Trump administration. "Since the very beginning, we have worked and now are ready to respond with countermeasures. We've prepared for this, and we can respond with countermeasures if necessary," von der Leyen said. EU trade ministers are set to meet Monday in Brussels to discuss the bloc's response to Trump's latest move -- and crucially how strong a line to take with Washington. Germany's finance minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday that "serious and solution-oriented negotiations" with the United States were still necessary, but added that if they fail, the European Union would need "decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and businesses in Europe". "Our hand remains outstretched but we won't accept just anything," Klingbeil told daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. That came after French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday urged the European Commission -- which negotiates on behalf of all EU countries -- to "resolutely defend European interests". Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has unleashed sweeping stop-start tariffs on allies and competitors alike, roiling financial markets and raising fears of a global economic downturn. But his administration is coming under pressure to secure deals with trading partners after promising a flurry of agreements. So far, US officials have only unveiled two pacts, with Britain and Vietnam, alongside temporarily lower tit-for-tat duties with China. The European Union, alongside dozens of other economies, had been set to see its US tariff level increase from a baseline of 10 percent on July 9, but Trump pushed back the deadline to August 1. In a letter published on Saturday, Trump cited the United States's trade imbalance with the bloc as justification for the new 30-percent levies. The EU tariff is markedly steeper than the 20-percent levy Trump had unveiled in April -- before hitting pause as markets went into meltdown.
