U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has moved on multiple fronts in the last few days, from counterterrorism designations to Ukraine diplomacy, while also drawing political attention at home. According to the Federal Register published Tuesday, Rubio formally designated the Balochistan Liberation Army as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and expanded its Specially Designated Global Terrorist aliases to include Majeed Brigade, Fateh Squad, and Zephyr Intelligence Research and Analysis Bureau, with the determinations dated July 31 and taking effect upon publication. The notices state the decisions were made in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury and are now in force.
On Ukraine, Kyiv reported fresh coordination with Rubio. The Office of the President of Ukraine said Andriy Yermak held a phone call with Secretary Rubio, who is also serving as Acting National Security Advisor, to align positions ahead of diplomatic steps this week. Ukraine emphasized the goal of a just and lasting peace, the need for an unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite to substantive talks, and increased pressure on Russia. The statement also thanked the United States and credited American leadership for efforts to end the war. The U.S. State Department’s public schedule in recent days has highlighted Rubio’s engagement around regional forums and press briefings, underscoring continued diplomacy.
Rubio has also tempered expectations for quick breakthroughs in peace negotiations. In remarks captured by U.S. outlets and social clips over the weekend, he said the U.S. may move on from trying to secure a Russia Ukraine peace deal if there is no real progress, and that he does not anticipate a major breakthrough in upcoming talks, signaling a harder edge to U.S. timelines absent movement.
At home, Rubio’s department is facing renewed scrutiny from watchdogs and critics. Lawfare reports that Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit on August 5 seeking State Department records tied to internal bias reporting policies and related matters, adding to a growing litigation docket targeting Trump administration actions. Separately, commentary circulating this week has criticized the administration’s handling of detainee swaps, referencing media inquiries to the State Department, which declined to discuss specific cases while defending operations that secured the release of Americans from Venezuela, as Newsweek previously reported.
Meanwhile, Rubio’s political profile remains a topic inside Washington. CBS affiliate reporting cites the Wall Street Journal and Daily Mail accounts that President Trump has privately teased that Rubio could rival Vice President J D Vance for the 2028 nomination, even as the White House publicly signals confidence in Vance’s prospects. Both men have publicly praised each other in recent interviews.
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