On behalf of the United States of America, I offer my sincere congratulations to the people of the Republic of Ecuador as you celebrate the 216th anniversary of your independence.
The relationship between our two countries is grounded in prioritization of peace and security, a commitment to economic freedom, and the noble pursuit of liberty for the Ecuadorian and American people. Together we work to foster shared prosperity and confront mutual challenges, including countering transnational organized crime and ending illegal immigration.
As we commemorate this anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our partnership. We look forward to building on our achievements and continuing to advance on shared economic and security to make our hemisphere stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
Secretary Rubio’s Call with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Wong
Readout
August 10, 2025
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong to discuss issues in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, along with global efforts to combat antisemitism. The Secretary also underscored the importance of the U.S.-Australia alliance for upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.
On behalf of the United States of America, I offer heartfelt congratulations to the government and the people of the Republic of Chad as you celebrate 65 years of independence. We commemorate decades of collaboration between the United States and the Republic of Chad on this important day, and we remain committed to strengthening our economic and security relationship in the year ahead.
Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation.
BLA was designated as an SDGT in 2019 following several terrorist attacks. Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade. In 2024, BLA claimed it had committed suicide attacks near the airport in Karachi and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, BLA claimed responsibility for the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers.
Today’s action taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.
Today’s actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation.
BLA was designated as an SDGT in 2019 following several terrorist attacks. Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade. In 2024, BLA claimed it had committed suicide attacks near the airport in Karachi and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, BLA claimed responsibility for the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers.
Today’s action taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.
Today’s actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
Deputy Secretary Landau’s Meeting with the Pacific Islands Ambassadors and Representatives
Readout
August 11, 2025
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with the Pacific Islands Ambassadors and Representatives of Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu today to discuss U.S.-Pacific Islands relations. The Deputy announced the United States is releasing $60 million to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency as part of a 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which allows U.S.-flagged vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of 16 Pacific Island countries, generating hundreds of millions per year in gross revenue for the U.S. economy. The Deputy Secretary and the Ambassadors also discussed greater involvement of the U.S. private sector to promote prosperity for all.
***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas has no public appointments.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under Secretary Hooker attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS BRENDAN P. HANRAHAN
11:30 a.m. Senior Bureau Official Hanrahan meets with UK Deputy National Security Advisor Anna Clunes at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
1:00 p.m. Senior Bureau Official Hanrahan meets with Polish Chargé d’Affaires to the United States Bogdan Klich at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
2:00 p.m. Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE) The Department Press Briefing will be streamed live on theDepartment homepageand YouTube Channel.
Joint Statement on Protecting American Consumers and Shipping Industries by Defeating the International Maritime Organization’s “Net-Zero Framework” aka Global Carbon Tax
08/12/2025
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Joint Statement on Protecting American Consumers and Shipping Industries by Defeating the International Maritime Organization’s “Net-Zero Framework” aka Global Carbon Tax
Media Note
August 12, 2025
The text of the following statement was released by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Begin Text:
President Trump has made it clear that the United States will not accept any international environmental agreement that unduly or unfairly burdens the United States or harms the interests of the American people. This October, members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are poised to consider the adoption of a so-called “Net-Zero Framework,” aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector.
Whatever its stated goals, the proposed framework is effectively a global carbon tax on Americans levied by an unaccountable UN organization. These fuel standards would conveniently benefit China by requiring the use of expensive fuels unavailable at global scale. These standards would also preclude the use of proven technologies that fuel global shipping fleets, including lower emissions options where U.S. industry leads such as liquified natural gas (LNG) and biofuels. Under this framework, ships will have to pay fees for failing to meet unattainable fuel standards and emissions targets. These fees will drive up energy and transportation and leisure cruise costs. Even small vessels would incur millions of dollars in fees, directly driving up costs for American consumers.
The Trump Administration unequivocally rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists. We will fight hard to protect the American people and their economic interests. Our fellow IMO members should be on notice that we will look for their support against this action and not hesitate to retaliate or explore remedies for our citizens should this endeavor fail.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Sid Rosenberg of Sid and Friends in the Morning
Interview
August 12, 2025
QUESTION: So here he is, the Secretary of State, one of the finest people we’ve got in this country, my old friend, Marco Rubio. Marco, good morning, pal. How are you?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Hey, good, good. I’m doing well, Sid. Thank you. Great to be back with you on the radio.
QUESTION: You know what’s funny? You’re not going to remember this, but we had the debate on my show 15 years ago at Frank’s place in Fort Lauderdale when you beat –
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: — Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek. You remember that.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: But the following year – May 2nd, 2011, Marco – you called my show unprovoked because the day before because we killed Bin Ladin. And I have the audio.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: In 2011. Does that feel like a long time ago?
SECRETARY RUBIO: It really does. They had that whole Netflix program about it the other day. You know what’s amazing about that whole thing, is that the night before that happened was the – that correspondent dinner people used to all go to. That’s kind of been dead now here, but – and Trump was in the audience that night. And Obama sort of —
QUESTION: He was?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Trump was in the audience at the correspondent dinner. That was the night right before. And Obama was, like, making jokes about him, and this, that, and the other.
QUESTION: That’s right.
SECRETARY RUBIO: And a lot of people – and a lot of people say that was the night that Donald Trump decided he was going to run for president. And he didn’t run right away; he waited four years. So I think that was a heck of a night, all these people in that place, that thing happened, the next morning the Bin Ladin thing happened. So anyway, yeah, no, time flies. That was back in 2011. That’s crazy.
QUESTION: Fourteen years ago, you’re right. That was the impetus, that was the motivation, behind President Trump eventually running.
So look, before we get to the stuff at hand with the country, I’ve got to tell you this. I know she’s listening right now. Your girl, Laura Ortiz Rodriguez, is great. And she’s Colombian, and I know that you are very close to a lot of Colombian people. Your wife is Colombian American, for example; terrific lady. And many of my listeners up here are Colombian. So yesterday we learned about the passing of the young presidential candidate Colombian Senator Uribe. He was shot in the streets of Bogotá two months ago – feels like yesterday. But now he’s died. So I’ll ask you, Mr. Secretary: What are your thoughts on this tragic passing? What does that mean for Colombia moving forward?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I hope it doesn’t lead to more incivility. Look, first of all, he actually comes from a family that’s been touched by tragedy before. His own mother was well known as well, and then she was held hostage by one of these drug cartels and died in an operation trying to save her. So he had already lived his life of pain in that regard, and then ran for office. And then – so I don’t know if you saw the video, but the guy just walks up to the back of him and just shoots him right in the head.
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: In a rally. And this is still a year away. So look, we’re very concerned about Colombia. Unfortunately, the president of Colombia right now, this guy Petro, is just in our view someone who has been quite erratic in his decision making and some of the things he’s doing. And that’s a problem because you have these drug gangs that are operating out of Venezuela with impunity. Like, no one challenges them. They openly operate out of Venezuela but project power into Colombia and are destabilizing the country. And it would be tragic because Colombia’s come a long way. People forget in the early ‘90s, Colombia was basically a failed state. I mean, it was on the verge of a collapsed state, and they fought so hard to reclaim the country from the cartels. And just the thought that it could slip backwards due to political violence or drug violence or whatever in any way is just heartbreaking.
And we just hope that the institutions in Colombia – the military, the courts, all the – many of the people there in the congress, in their congress, are not for this game plan that’s going on right now. And so they’ll have elections in about a year and hopefully the country will get back on the track that it was on, which is one of the strongest, closest partners America has in the region, and a country that’s come so far. But I think we’ve lost some ground here over the last three years, and it’s just sad being so close to it in terms of, like, so many people I know that are from there or still stay in touch with it.
QUESTION: Terrible. And Mr. Secretary, you mentioned the cartels, and I must give you guys credit – you, Trump, the whole administration. What a tremendous job. Really, the easy one was first just recognizing the cartels as a terrorist organization; it should have been a long time ago. So thank you for doing that. But you mentioned Venezuela. I think the reward is up to 50 million now for Maduro. Is that right?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Yeah. And what people forget about Maduro – they call him a dictator because he is and all that – he’s not a government official. In ess
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