KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) 鈥 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart will meet Thursday in Malaysia for what could be a testy conversation as tensions between the countries rise over Moscow鈥檚 increasing attacks on Ukraine and questions about whether Russia's leader is serious about a peace deal.
Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are to see each other in Kuala Lumpur, where both men are attending the annual 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 鈥 ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks 鈥 that was cheered in Moscow.
The resumption comes as Russia fires and as has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
鈥淧utin is not, he鈥檚 not treating human beings right,鈥 Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, explaining the pause鈥檚 reversal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 killing too many people. So we鈥檙e sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I鈥檝e approved that.鈥
A US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats
Rubio was also seeing other foreign ministers, including many whose countries face on Aug. 1. The tariff threat could overshadow the top diplomat鈥檚 first official trip to Asia, just as the U.S. seeks to boost relations with Indo-Pacific nations to counter China鈥檚 growing influence in the region.
Rubio sought to assuage concerns as he held group talks with ASEAN foreign ministers.
鈥淭he Indo Pacific, the region, remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy,鈥 he told them. 鈥淲hen I hear in the news that perhaps the United States or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I would say distraction is impossible, because it is our strong view and the reality that this century and the story of next 50 years will largely be written here in this region.鈥
鈥淭hese are relationships and partnerships that we intend to continue to build on without seeking the approval or the permission of any other actor in the region of the world,鈥 he said in an apparent reference to China.
Trump on Monday and Wednesday that they will face higher tariffs if they don鈥檛 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鈥檚 focus during the meetings, which Trump鈥檚 Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime safety and security in , where China has become increasingly aggressive toward , as well as combating transnational crime.
But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some of America鈥檚 closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face if there is no deal.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned that global trade is being weaponized to coerce weaker nations. Speaking at an ASEAN foreign ministers鈥 meeting on Wednesday, Anwar urged the bloc to strengthen regional trade and reduce reliance on external powers.
Rubio鈥檚 鈥渢alking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs,鈥 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 鈥榓s a united bloc鈥 鈥 he wasn鈥檛 talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs,鈥 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.
to two more ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose imports would be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines at 20%. Others hit this week include Cambodia at 36%, Indonesia at 32%, Laos at 40%, Malaysia at 25%, Myanmar at 40% and Thailand at 36%.
Vietnam recently for a 20% tariffs on its imports, while Singapore still faces a 10% tariff that was imposed in April. The Trump administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at least temper China鈥檚 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 鈥渇luent in ASEAN principles and conventions,鈥 while Rubio 鈥渋s a rookie trying to sell an 鈥楢merica First鈥 message to a deeply skeptical audience.鈥
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鈥檚 military industrial sector, allowing it to produce additional weapons that it can use attack Ukraine.
Earlier on Thursday, Rubio signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear energy memorandum with Malaysia鈥檚 foreign minister, which will pave the way for negotiations on a more formal nuclear cooperation deal, known as a 123 agreement after the section of U.S. law that allows them.
Such agreements allow the U.S. and U.S. companies to work with and invest in civilian energy nuclear programs in other countries under strict supervision.
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Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report.
