
Rubio will meet Russian foreign minister in Malaysia with Ukraine tensions high
Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are to see each other in Kuala Lumpur, where both men are attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together all 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners, including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Europeans and the U.S.
The meeting is set to take place shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause — ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks — that was cheered in Moscow.
The resumption comes as Russia fires escalating air attacks on Ukraine and as President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
'Putin is not, he's not treating human beings right,' Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, explaining the pause's reversal. 'It's killing too many people. So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that.'
A US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats
Rubio will also see other foreign ministers, including many whose countries face tariffs set to be imposed on Aug. 1. That threat could overshadow the top diplomat's first official trip to Asia, just as the U.S. seeks to boost relations with Indo-Pacific nations to counter China's growing influence in the region.
Trump notified several countries on Monday and Wednesday that they will face higher tariffs if they don't make trade deals with the U.S. Among them are eight of ASEAN's 10 members.
State Department officials said tariffs and trade will not be Rubio's focus during the meetings, which Trump's Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime safety and security in the South China Sea, where China has become increasingly aggressive toward its small neighbors, as well as combating transnational crime.
But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some of America's closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face 25% tariffs if there is no deal.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned that global trade is being weaponized as U.S. tariffs loom over Southeast Asia. Speaking at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting on Wednesday, Anwar urged the bloc to strengthen regional trade and reduce reliance on external powers.
Rubio's 'talking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs,' said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific during the Obama administration.
When Anwar said 'ASEAN will approach challenges 'as a united bloc' — he wasn't talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs,' Russel noted.
8 of ASEAN's 10 members face major tariff hikes
Among ASEAN states, Trump has so far announced tariffs on almost all of the 10 members of the bloc, which would face a 25% tariff that could specifically hit its electronics and electrical product exports to the United States.
Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz said Wednesday that while Malaysia is ready to resume tariff negotiations, it would not cross its red lines, including U.S. requests for changes to government procurement, halal certification, medical standards and digital taxes.
Trump sent tariff letters to two more ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose imports would be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines, at 20%.
Vietnam recently agreed to a trade deal for 20% tariffs on its imports, while Singapore wasn't part of Trump's original April 2 tariffs. Both are ASEAN countries. The Trump administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at least temper China's push to dominate the region.
In Kuala Lumpur, Rubio also will likely come face-to-face with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his brief visit of roughly 36 hours.
Russel noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is a veteran of such gatherings and 'fluent in ASEAN principles and conventions,' while Rubio 'is a rookie trying to sell an 'America First' message to a deeply skeptical audience.'
Issues with China, including on trade, human rights, the militarization of the South China Sea and China's support for Russia in Ukraine, remain substantial.
U.S. officials continue to accuse China of resupplying and revamping Russia's military industrial sector, allowing it to produce additional weapons that it can use attack Ukraine.
___
Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Global News
7 minutes ago
- Global News
Trump admin investigating Harvard over visa program participation
In the latest in series of Trump administration inquiries targeting Harvard University, the State Department said Wednesday it is investigating whether the Ivy League school will remain part of a government program that provides American visas for students and researchers from other countries. Harvard has faced mounting sanctions and scrutiny from Washington since rejecting demands from a federal antisemitism task force in April. Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging $2.6 billion in federal cuts and has accused the Republican administration of waging a retaliation campaign. The statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not say why his department was examining Harvard's eligibility to take part in the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows foreign nationals to study or work in the United States through cultural and education exchange programs. 0:41 Trump signs proclamation to block almost all international students from attending Harvard It said all sponsors, such as Harvard, 'are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations, transparency in reporting, and a demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding upon which the program was founded.' Story continues below advertisement A spokesman for Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The department said the investigation will seek to ensure that its programs 'do not run contrary to our nation's interests.' The administration also has tried several times to prevent the school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from hosting foreign students, and President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. Last month, his administration issued a finding that Harvard tolerated antisemitism, a step that could jeopardize all of Harvard's federal funding, including student loans or grants. The penalty is typically referred to as a 'death sentence.' Harvard's president, Alan Garber, has said the university has made changes to combat antisemitism and will not submit to the administration's demands.


Global News
7 minutes ago
- Global News
Obama refutes Trump's ‘treason' claim in rare response to the U.S. president
Former U.S. president Barack Obama has shut down claims that he attempted to stage a coup after President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, without providing evidence, that Obama led a campaign falsely tying Trump to Russia to undermine his 2016 presidential run. In a rare move, Obama's office issued a strongly worded rebuttal to Trump's allegations after the president told reporters that his predecessor attempted to overthrow his presidency and that Obama was guilty of 'treason.' 'Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,' spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said on behalf of the former president. 'But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen President Barack Obama and president-elect Donald Trump arrive for the 58th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. PhotoScott Applewhite / Getty Images Trump has attacked Obama in the past. Still, the president, since assuming office in January, has not gone so far as to accuse the former president and his entire administration of committing a crime. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with the president of the Philippines on Tuesday, Trump piggybacked on comments from his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who on Friday threatened to criminally charge Obama and his administration over intelligence suggesting they had conspired against Trump. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She declassified documents and said the information she was releasing showed a 'treasonous conspiracy,' claims that Democrats say are false and politically motivated. 'It's there, he's guilty. This was treason,' Trump said, without offering proof. 'They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody's ever imagined, even in other countries.' Story continues below advertisement Previous reports directly contradict the Trump administration's allegations and suggest that Russia used a mole and other tools to try and sway the 2016 election in Trump's favour. A 2020 bipartisan inquest by the Senate intelligence committee found that Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort, the WikiLeaks website and others to try to influence the 2016 election to help Trump's campaign, albeit unsuccessfully. Rodenbush referenced the 2020 report in his defence of the former Democratic president. 'Nothing in the document issued last week [by Gabbard] undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,' he said. According to Reuters, Trump has frequently labelled the findings a hoax, a tactic he often employs to quash unfavourable narratives about his conduct. In recent days, the president reposted on Truth Social a fake AI-generated video depicting Obama being handcuffed and arrested in the Oval Office, coupled with a series of clips of former Democratic leaders, including Joe Biden, saying 'no one is above the law.' Story continues below advertisement Similarly, after breaking a promise to release unseen documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a roster of the former financier's wealthy clients — the Trump administration said there was no such list, but then blamed the existence of the highly publicized files on Democrats, claiming evidence against Epstein had been compiled by Trump's political foes in an attempt to undermine him in a 'hoax'-style campaign. In a statement posted on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote, 'Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration?' 'They created the Epstein Files,' he wrote. Trump, asked in the Oval Office about Epstein, quickly pivoted into an attack on Obama and Hillary Clinton. Story continues below advertisement 'The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama absolutely cold,' Trump said. Trump suggested action would be taken against Obama and his former officials, calling the Russia investigation a treasonous act and the former president guilty of 'trying to lead a coup.' — With files from Reuters


Toronto Sun
7 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Harvard under investigation over participation in visa program for foreign students and researchers
Published Jul 23, 2025 • 1 minute read People walk between buildings on Harvard University campus, Dec. 17, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. Photo by Steven Senne / AP BOSTON — In the latest in series of Trump administration inquiries targeting Harvard University, the State Department said Wednesday it is investigating whether the Ivy League school will remain part of a government program that provides American visas for students and researchers from other countries. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Harvard has faced mounting sanctions and scrutiny from Washington since rejecting demands from a federal antisemitism task force in April. Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging $2.6 billion in federal cuts and has accused the Republican administration of waging a retaliation campaign. The statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not say why his department was examining Harvard's eligibility to take part in the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows foreign nationals to study or work in the United States through cultural and education exchange programs. It said all sponsors, such as Harvard, 'are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations, transparency in reporting, and a demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding upon which the program was founded.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A spokesman for Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The department said the investigation will seek to ensure that its programs 'do not run contrary to our nation's interests.' The administration also has tried several times to prevent the school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from hosting foreign students, and President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. Last month, his administration issued a finding that Harvard tolerated antisemitism, a step that could jeopardize all of Harvard's federal funding, including student loans or grants. The penalty is typically referred to as a 'death sentence.' Harvard's president, Alan Garber, has said the university has made changes to combat antisemitism and will not submit to the administration's demands. Golf Canada Toronto & GTA Ontario World