Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on August 6, 2026, targeting five Cuban entities and eight individuals accused of procuring military equipment from China and Russia, including Cuba's senior military representative in Beijing.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband held his first meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, where discussions focused on Ukraine, European security responsibilities, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Miliband faced questions about his past criticisms of President Trump, which he declined to address directly.
Following a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Kremlin says it will wait for new American proposals to end the Ukraine war, while blaming Ukraine's rejection of earlier peace terms on European influence and continued U.S. military assistance. Rubio acknowledged no quick deal is possible despite Trump administration commitment to diplomacy.
China's Commerce Ministry said China is soliciting views from domestic companies, business associations, local governments, and U.S. business groups, while the United States is separately seeking public comments on the Board of Trade and the reciprocal tariff arrangements. The proposed framework covers about $30 billion worth of goods on each side, while the two countries continue to work out the board's structure, functions, and operating model.
Live-fire military exercises conducted by China in the Taiwan Strait near Fujian province on July 23–24, 2026, followed high-level U.S.-China talks in Manila between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Maritime authorities issued navigation warnings for the drill areas.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila on Wednesday to lay groundwork for Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected visit to Washington in September. Rubio said the two countries were moving toward establishing trade and investment boards, while the diplomats discussed potential areas of cooperation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial gathering in Manila, amid heightened tensions over China's actions in the South China Sea and broader regional security concerns.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Manila this weekend for meetings with Asia-Pacific countries, where he is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to prepare for a possible September summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The discussions are also expected to address South China Sea disputes and regional security issues.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that the Trump administration is launching a major effort to dismantle the International Criminal Court, calling it a threat to U.S. sovereignty and urging other countries to join the campaign against the global institution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Manama on June 25, 2026, to discuss a broader Iran agreement including curbs on missiles and proxies, while reaffirming US-Gulf partnerships and addressing regional issues in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Gulf Arab leaders to address their concerns about being excluded from U.S.-Iran negotiations, while setting red lines including rejecting any Iranian fees on Strait of Hormuz shipping. Rubio broke his silence after more than a week on the emerging Iran agreement.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have struck notably different tones on U.S. policy toward Iran and Israel, with Vance championing a fragile Iran ceasefire agreement while Rubio emphasizes Israel's right to self-defense. The public split reveals competing foreign policy camps within the Republican administration.
Qatar and Oman are mediating talks between Iran, Iraq, and Gulf Arab states over the administration of the Strait of Hormuz, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio firmly states Iran cannot charge tolls for vessel transit through the strategic waterway.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain to address Gulf Arab concerns about a preliminary agreement with Iran that aims to end hostilities. Rubio emphasized that no country, including Iran, would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and Oman announced plans to establish a joint working group to examine charging fees for maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared no country would be allowed to impose tolls on the strategic waterway.
On the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Chinese authorities blocked memorial activities including warning families not to visit graves and intercepting a Hong Kong artist, while drawing criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Taiwan. Despite censorship efforts, information about the crackdown continues to reach younger Chinese citizens.
Russia deployed an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in a massive attack on Kyiv that killed at least four people, then warned of planned systematic strikes on the Ukrainian capital while urging foreign nationals to leave. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov directly advised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American diplomats and citizens from Kyiv.
NATO members declined to participate in Trump's planned blockade of Iranian ports, proposing to intervene only after fighting ends. The move is likely to anger Trump, who has criticized allies for not supporting the US war effort.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested the niece and grandniece of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed in a 2020 US drone strike. The State Department revoked their green cards, accusing them of being 'outspoken supporters' of Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the US may need to reassess its relationship with NATO after the Iran war, criticizing the alliance's alleged lack of support during the Middle East conflict. Trump separately told the Telegraph he is 'strongly considering' pulling the US out of NATO over allies' refusal to support military action against Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ongoing war with Iran is the 'last best chance' to avoid a nuclear Islamic regime in interviews with Al Jazeera and others, while President Donald Trump issued nuclear threats against Iran and the administration indicated US objectives could be achieved within weeks.
Two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed by a roadside explosion in southern Lebanon on March 30, less than 24 hours after another Indonesian peacekeeper was killed. The UN Security Council convened an emergency session in response to the deaths as Israel expands its Lebanon operations.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, marking their first direct involvement in the month-old US-Israeli war against Iran. The entry of the Houthis threatens to further expand the regional conflict and disrupt global shipping.
