US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to confront Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia, as Moscow’s escalating attacks on Ukraine fuel doubts about President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to peace.
The meeting, part of the annual summit uniting ASEAN’s 10 members and global powers like the US, Russia, and China, comes as the US resumes defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine after a controversial pause cheered by Moscow.
President Donald Trump, frustrated with Putin’s actions, reversed the pause, stating, “He’s not treating human beings right. The war’s killing too many people.” The decision follows intensified Russian air strikes, heightening global tensions.
Meanwhile, Rubio’s first Asia trip is clouded by Trump’s tariff threats against eight ASEAN nations, set to hit on August 1 with rates as high as 40%. These tariffs, targeting countries like Malaysia (25%) and Cambodia (36%), risk overshadowing US efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that trade is being “weaponized” to pressure smaller nations, urging ASEAN to bolster regional trade independence.
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Rubio insisted the Indo-Pacific remains a US priority, saying, “This century’s story will largely be written here.” Yet, analysts like Danny Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute argue that Rubio’s focus on China’s South China Sea aggression may fall flat amid tariff backlash. Russel noted that ASEAN’s unity is aimed at countering US economic pressure, not just Chinese expansion.
Rubio also signed a nuclear energy memorandum with Malaysia, laying groundwork for a formal US-Malaysia nuclear deal. However, his brief 36-hour visit may include tense encounters with China’s seasoned Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as the US accuses Beijing of aiding Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
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