标签： Asia

In a significant development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Saturday that Israel, the United States, and other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire agreement are actively sharing intelligence to preempt potential threats. This collaborative effort reportedly enabled the identification of a possible imminent attack last weekend, which was subsequently averted. The State Department had earlier issued warnings based on credible reports suggesting that Hamas might violate the ceasefire by targeting Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Rubio emphasized the importance of proactive threat detection, stating, ‘The goal is to identify a threat before it happens.’

Rubio also highlighted the growing interest among multiple nations in joining an international stabilization force aimed at deploying to Gaza. However, he noted that these countries require further clarity on the mission’s objectives and rules of engagement. The U.S. is considering advocating for a U.N. resolution to support the force, thereby encouraging broader participation. Countries such as Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan have expressed interest in the initiative.

During his multistop tour in Asia, Rubio met with President Donald Trump in Qatar, following his visit to Israel. In Israel, he engaged with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and toured a U.S.-led coordination center overseeing the ceasefire. Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump adviser Jared Kushner had previously visited Israel to reinforce the fragile ceasefire agreement.

Rubio also addressed other pressing foreign policy issues, including the recent U.S. sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro over alleged involvement in the global drug trade. He clarified that the sanctions were not intended to target Colombia as a nation but were a response to Petro’s actions, which he described as hostile. Rubio reiterated the U.S.’s strong relationship with Colombia’s people and institutions, emphasizing that economic measures like tariffs were avoided to prevent harm to the country’s economy.

On the topic of Venezuela, Rubio dismissed speculation that recent U.S. military actions in Latin America were aimed at ousting President Nicolás Maduro. He framed these actions as part of a counterdrug operation, accusing Maduro’s government of facilitating narcotics trafficking. Maduro, however, denied the allegations, calling them a fabricated narrative.

Regarding U.S.-China relations, Rubio affirmed that Taiwan would not be used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. He stressed the importance of maintaining U.S. engagement with China while upholding commitments to Taiwan’s security.

US President Donald Trump has embarked on a pivotal diplomatic tour across Asia, with a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at its core. The visit, spanning Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, is set against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump’s agenda is dominated by trade negotiations, with a focus on securing favorable deals for American businesses while addressing the unsustainable nature of tariffs on Chinese imports. The meeting with Xi, their first since 2019, could redefine US-China relations for the remainder of Trump’s second term. Analysts suggest that Xi, leveraging China’s control over rare earth materials and its reduced dependence on US exports, may adopt a tougher stance. Meanwhile, Trump aims to revive American agricultural exports to China and avoid a full-blown trade war. The tour also includes discussions with Japan and South Korea, where Trump seeks to finalize tariff agreements and secure investments. In Malaysia, Trump’s presence at the ASEAN summit is expected to normalize US relations with the region, which has been heavily impacted by his trade policies. The visit underscores the delicate balance between economic rivalry and diplomatic cooperation in a rapidly shifting global order.

Belgian authorities have detained Egyptian activist Anas Habib and his brother, Tarek Habib, during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to Brussels earlier this week. The arrests, reported by Egyptian media, were allegedly linked to accusations that Anas Habib had been surveilling and threatening President Sisi during the EU-Egypt Summit. Habib, a prominent activist, gained international attention in July when he chained the gates of Egypt’s embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, to protest Egypt’s closure of its border with Gaza amid Israel’s military actions in the region. He described the act as symbolic of Egypt’s claim that Israel was responsible for the border closure. Habib later repeated the protest at the Jordanian embassy, criticizing Jordan’s response to the Gaza conflict. In an interview with Middle East Eye, Habib accused the Egyptian regime of complicity in the ongoing crisis, stating, “This is not an accusation; it’s a fact.” Habib, who was previously detained as a political prisoner in Egypt at the age of 15, expressed fears of arrest or death if he were to return to his home country. Egyptian officials have dismissed the embassy incidents as “malicious and suspicious actions” aimed at diverting attention from Israel’s actions in Gaza. Belgian authorities reportedly seized the brothers’ phones and are collaborating with Egyptian officials to investigate the alleged threats. The detentions coincided with the first EU-Egypt summit, where several agreements, including a €4 billion aid package, were signed.