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00:00Okay, let's just go to questions. You ready?
00:01Hi, Mr. Secretary.
00:03Go ahead.
00:04Hi, thanks for doing this.
00:06I wanted to ask you first about your meetings yesterday with the Pope Leo.
00:10President Trump has had very harsh language and words for the Pope.
00:14He gets the backdrop of the war in Iran.
00:17Did you make amends with the Pope yesterday?
00:20No, we had a very good meeting.
00:21I mean, ultimately, it's important.
00:24First of all, there's a lot that we work together with, with the church,
00:26and we talked about those areas that we're working together on, different parts of the world.
00:31I know everyone's interested in, you know, the other aspects of it,
00:34but I expressed, you know, updated them on the situation with Iran,
00:37expressed our point of view about why this was an important,
00:39and the danger that Iran poses to the world, which is largely recognized.
00:43So, obviously, the, you know, the Holy Father is a spiritual leader.
00:48He's the first and foremost.
00:50I mean, that's his role to play.
00:52And, obviously, the church has always interacted on behalf of a mission for peace
00:57and a respect for all of humanity.
01:00But, at the end, it was a very cordial and important meeting,
01:03and it's important to share our points of view and an explanation
01:07and an understanding of where we're coming from.
01:09And I thought it was very positive.
01:11Secretary Rubio, you also mentioned talking about the Western Hemisphere with the Pope.
01:17And, of course, the Catholic Church is instrumental in delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba.
01:24I wondered if you discussed that and whether there was any disagreements on U.S. policy towards Cuba.
01:30Oh, we discussed, I mean, we've provided $6 million of humanitarian aid,
01:35U.S. humanitarian aid that was distributed by Caritas, the Catholic Church agency.
01:39We're prepared to do more.
01:40In fact, we've offered the regime there $100 million of humanitarian aid
01:44that, unfortunately, so far they have not agreed to distribute to help the people of Cuba.
01:48So, we did the hurricane relief, but we're offering more.
01:51And it's the regime that's not accepting it.
01:53It's the regime that's standing in the way of it.
01:55So, we discussed that, and we hope we can do it,
01:58because we do want to help the people of Cuba who are being, you know,
02:01hurt by this incompetent regime that's destroyed the country and the economy.
02:05Secretary, can I ask about the meeting with the Pope?
02:08I mean, after this meeting with the Pope, which you've described as cordial and productive,
02:12are you going to recommend to the President that he stops criticizing the Pope and social media?
02:17Why would I tell you what I'm going to recommend to the President?
02:19But beyond that, the President will always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S.
02:23policy.
02:24The President of the United States is always going to act in what's in the best interest of the United
02:27States.
02:28I think we can do that and continue to also have a very productive
02:31and fruitful and important relationship with the Church,
02:35because it plays an important role in the world as well.
02:37Mr. Secretary, can you just talk about whether or not you...
02:39No, no, no, I called her. I'm sorry.
02:40Secretary Rubio, were there any themes from your conversation yesterday with Pope Leo
02:45that resonated with you personally?
02:49Well, if it was personal, what would I tell you?
02:51No. Here's the bottom line on that, is that the Church is an important global institution.
02:56It has a presence all over the world.
02:57I know you guys are fixated on who said what about who at what time.
03:01I understand all that, okay, because media, you guys have headlines, you have editors,
03:04you have people that want you to post, and these are interesting stories.
03:06But at the end of the day, the Pope just returned from Africa,
03:09a very important continent with growing Christian populations,
03:12many of whom are threatened or feel threatened by the spread of radical Islamic terrorism.
03:17So we care about that.
03:19The Pope and the Church has an interest in Christian communities in Lebanon,
03:23a place that we're very involved in trying to establish a peace between Israel and Lebanon.
03:27The Church obviously has a very important presence in Latin America.
03:29The bishops from Venezuela had just been here a few days earlier,
03:33so we shared thoughts about those sorts of things.
03:35I think it's an opportunity to personally express our point of view from the standpoint of foreign policy
03:41and the areas we're involved in and share insights, but also to gain insights,
03:45because the Church has a unique role in many of these countries in terms of the insights
03:48and information that they're receiving.
03:50In some cases in the past, the Church has been an important interlocutor,
03:53not just with governments but with societies.
03:55And then, of course, on the practical level, the Church plays an important role
03:59in humanitarian efforts in different parts of the world
04:01and in many places has served as a facilitator of U.S. humanitarian assistance,
04:06such as I highlighted a moment ago when it comes to Cuba.
04:09Yes, go ahead.
04:09I'll get to that problem.
04:10Go ahead.
04:11Mr. Secretary, can you say, in your meeting with Prime Minister Maloney,
04:13whether you talked about the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from Italy
04:16as well as the possibility of the United States withdrawing from NATO altogether?
04:19We didn't discuss any specifics like that, and that's a decision for the President to make.
04:23It's a decision every President makes.
04:26The fact of the matter, though, is, and I said publicly and I've said repeatedly,
04:32I've been a strong supporter of NATO throughout my career in the Senate and even now.
04:35And one of the advantages of being in NATO is that it allows us to have forces deployed in Europe
04:41and bases that allow us a logistical ability to project power in the case of contingencies.
04:47But we had a contingency, and some countries in Europe, some countries in Europe, like Spain as an example,
04:52denied us the use of those bases for a very important contingency
04:55that in some ways the denial of those bases actually impeded the mission, not severely, but had a cost
05:01and, in fact, even created some unnecessary dangers.
05:04So if one of the main reasons why the U.S. is in NATO is the ability to have forces
05:10deployed in Europe
05:11that we could project to other contingencies, and now that's no longer the case,
05:15at least when it comes to some NATO members, that's a problem, and it has to be examined.
05:19But ultimately, that's a decision for the President to make.
05:22His team and people like myself and others will provide him what those potential options are,
05:26but ultimately he'll have to make that decision.
05:28He hasn't made those decisions yet.
05:30As far as recent news of deployments, like, for example, those were all already ongoing.
05:35For example, in Germany, the troops that were withdrawn, which represent less than 14 percent of our total troop presence
05:41there,
05:41that's already pre-programmed, and, in fact, all it did is take us back to where we were in 2022.
05:46And so there was always a plan to do some shifting within NATO.
05:51As far as broader changes, I don't have an announcement for you on that today,
05:55but that's a decision for the President to make.
05:58Certainly, you know, we'll present both options and perspectives,
06:00but we're, you know, that, I don't have anything new to announce on that today.
06:03Yes, Mr. Secretary, your former colleagues on the Hill,
06:06the Republican senators, believe that troops' withdrawal will embolden Putin and will benefit Russia.
06:11Do you agree with that?
06:12We'll do what? I'm sorry?
06:13Troops' withdrawal will embolden Putin and benefit Russia.
06:16Do you agree with that assessment?
06:17Well, in the end, the United States is always,
06:19the President is going to always do what's in the national interest.
06:21We have global obligations all over the world.
06:23We have troop deployments all over the world,
06:25and those are constantly shifting and changing.
06:27For example, we increased troop presence in NATO in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine.
06:33So we're always making these decisions,
06:35and there were some already previewed before any of this had happened in terms of the base denials.
06:40But in the end, look, here, the bottom line is we always, you know,
06:45while we may be the most powerful country in the world and we may have the most resources,
06:48our resources are not unlimited.
06:50We have to always assign resources around the world, including military resources,
06:54on the basis of what serves the national interest.
06:57That's a decision the President has to make,
06:59especially within the context of recent developments by some countries within NATO
07:03and the stance they've taken towards the United States.
07:06But, you know, no decision has been made on that yet.
07:09That's something the President is still working through.
07:11Have you managed to bridge differences on Iran, both with Rome and with that matter?
07:17Yeah, I mean, I think everybody agrees that Iran having a nuclear weapon is unacceptable.
07:22I mean, I don't know of anyone who thinks it's a good idea for Iran to have a nuclear weapon
07:25except the Ayatollah.
07:28So I think the question is, what do you do about it?
07:30And the President's actually trying to do something about it.
07:32And so, I mean, that's, I don't know what the, I don't think there's any disagreement that they can't have
07:38a nuclear weapon.
07:39I think the question is, what do you do about it?
07:41And, you know, we've had every American President says, oh, they can't have a nuclear weapon.
07:45This is the first American President that's actually trying to do something concrete about it.
07:50I don't know who would disagree with that.
07:51I mean, it's an important thing that has to be confronted.
07:53Can you give us an official...
07:55Can you give us an update on the status of negotiations with Iran right now?
07:58Well, we should know something today.
08:00I mean, we're expecting a response from them.
08:01We'll see what the response entails.
08:03The hope is it's something that it can put us into a serious process of negotiation.
08:08Obviously, we've seen the reporting overnight that Iran has established or trying to establish some agency that's going to control
08:14traffic in the Straits.
08:15That would be very problematic.
08:17That would actually be unacceptable.
08:18I mean, the normalizing of their controlling of international waterways is both illegal and it's just something that's unacceptable.
08:26And the world has to start asking itself, what is it willing to do if Iran tries to normalize a
08:31control of an international waterway?
08:33I think that's unacceptable.
08:35But we're expecting a response from them today at some point.
08:38We have not received that yet in the last hour, but perhaps that will come.
08:43Their system is still highly fractured and a bit dysfunctional as well.
08:46So, that may be serving as an impediment.
08:49I hope it's a serious offer.
08:50I really do.
08:51Can you confirm there's a resume of talks between Israel and Lebanon next week?
08:58Do you expect that to happen?
08:59We expect talks.
09:00I don't know if we've set the exact date yet, but we expect that there'll be additional talks.
09:04Look, it's one of the areas that I think we can work with Italy on.
09:08They can play a very productive role and a constructive role in providing resources to the Lebanese government.
09:13In the end, we all share the same goal.
09:15And by all, I mean including the Lebanese government and the Israeli government, that we want the relations between Israel
09:21and Lebanon, its legitimate government, to be very strong.
09:24The impediment to that is Hezbollah.
09:26Again, an Iranian agent, Hezbollah, who is victimizing not just Israelis, but Hezbollah is also victimizing Lebanon.
09:33The reason why Lebanon faces bombings, the reason why Lebanon faces violence is because of Hezbollah.
09:38It is Hezbollah that's imposing this on them.
09:41So, I think we all share the same goal, which is a strong Lebanese government that doesn't have an armed
09:46Hezbollah operating within its national territory, imposing a threat to any of its neighbors.
09:50And to do that, we have to empower and equip the Lebanese government to be able to confront that threat.
09:54And I think Italy and other countries, but Italy in particular, can play an important role in not just helping
10:00equip the government, but in cutting off the illicit financing that supports, helping them to cut off the financing that
10:05supports Hezbollah and the danger they pose.
10:08Is it possible to get a peace deal on Lebanon without first solving the conflict with Iran?
10:14How linked are those two conflicts right now?
10:17Well, I mean, Hezbollah is an Iranian agent, 100%.
10:19I mean, Hezbollah wouldn't exist without Iran's support.
10:21So, but I think it's possible.
10:24I mean, Hezbollah has been both weakened, but still capable of inflicting damage and doing terroristic activities, as we've seen.
10:32So, I think the way I would phrase it is, we're not going to negotiate with Iran over Hezbollah,
10:36because Hezbollah is a dangerous, other than if they're willing to stop funding them and supporting them.
10:42I think our negotiations, our role is with the Lebanese government.
10:46Lebanon should be governed by the Lebanese government.
10:48It should not have a terrorist group operating within its national territory that poses a threat, both to its own
10:54people, including the Shia population, and to the government, and to Israel, and to its other neighbors.
10:59So, that's what we're going to focus on.
11:01Mr. Secretary, can we come back to Cuba a little bit?
11:05The United States, including yesterday, are ramping up sanctions against Cuba, the regime, and all that.
11:12With the exchange with the Pope, did you feel any convergence of views on that and on the U.S.
11:19policy?
11:19Let me clarify something for you.
11:20Our sanctions are against a company named Gaisa.
11:24This is a holding company set up by generals in Cuba that has generated billions of dollars of revenue, none
11:30of which benefits the Cuban people.
11:31Not one cent of it benefits the Cuban people.
11:33You understand this, right?
11:34I don't know if you know this.
11:36There's the Cuban government, and they have a budget, and then there's this private company that has more money than
11:42the government does.
11:43None of the money in that company goes to build a single road, a single bridge, provide a single grain
11:48of rice to a single Cuban, other than the people that are part of Gaisa.
11:52So that's what we're sanctioning, is a company that basically is taking anything that makes money in Cuba and illegally
11:58putting it into the pockets of a few regime insiders.
12:02So that's not sanctions on the Cuban people, because the Cuban people don't benefit from Gaisa.
12:05It's a sanction against this company that is stealing from the Cuban people to the benefit of a few.
12:10And we didn't discuss those sanctions yesterday, but we imposed them yesterday, and we're going to be doing more, by
12:15the way.
12:17Many people thought that Europe was a mission impossible after the Trump's attacks, heavy attacks.
12:25Which mission? I'm sorry.
12:27The visit.
12:27Mission impossible.
12:28The mission, yes.
12:28What's your judgment at the end of the visit, mission accomplished?
12:33We work with the Vatican on a lot of things.
12:34Our relationship between, you know, for example, our mission here in the Vatican, like I told you, I mean, we're
12:39working together on humanitarian issues.
12:40We're focused on other issues as well.
12:43Well, the president's perspective is clear.
12:46He thinks that Iran is a threat, and it needs to be addressed.
12:50And that position remains unchanged.
12:52And I think we're capable of having that position and expressing that position clearly, and also working cooperatively,
12:59and as we have for centuries, as we have for decades, with the Vatican and with the Catholic Church, who
13:05has a global presence.
13:06Did you explicitly ask the Pope to stop his criticism of the Iran war?
13:11I'm not going to discuss what I talk about the Pope, but I'm not going to ask him.
13:14That's not the purpose of the—I told you guys before I even came here.
13:18And that is that we have a very strong relationship with the Vatican.
13:21We work with them on a lot of things around the world.
13:23This was a trip that had been planned even before all these things had happened.
13:26So why—just as an example, why would I not want to hear the perspectives of the most important, in many
13:34cases, a far-reaching religious leader in the world on his perspectives about what he saw on his trip to
13:39Africa,
13:39or what his bishops and others and agencies are hearing in the Western Hemisphere, or the plight of Christians in
13:47Africa but also those in Lebanon, a place that—so of course we're going to engage with him on these things.
13:51That was the purpose of our meeting, and in that realm it was very, very productive, and it was a
13:55good meeting because we were able to talk about these different areas of the world where they have a presence,
13:59where they are engaged, and we are as well,
14:01and of course find opportunities to either continue cooperating where that already exists, like in Cuba, or expand our cooperation
14:07in other places where it makes sense.
14:09Is it fair to expect a phone call between the President and the Pope any time soon?
14:14I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. I mean, it could happen.
14:17Mr. May I ask you about Iran, if possible? You declared that Operation Epic Fury was over.
14:23Now, given all these military actions that we're seeing on the ground, what does over mean militarily?
14:29No, no. Operation Epic Fury was an offensive operation designed to destroy their missile launches, their Navy, their Air Force,
14:35and it achieved that, and their factories, and it achieved that.
14:38What you saw yesterday was U.S. destroyers moving through international waters being fired upon by the Iranians, and the
14:44U.S. responded defensively to protect itself.
14:47That's what you saw. I mean, that's separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.
14:55If you fire a drone or a missile at our destroyer, what are we supposed to do? Let it hit
14:59it? We have to respond to it.
15:01We have to knock down the missile, and we have to knock out whatever it is that launched that missile.
15:05The alternative is to let it sink one of our ships. That's crazy. So, of course, we responded to it.
15:10Well, yes, but the point is, if there's not much seizing in the firing because we've seized some attacks.
15:15Well, you should ask that to the Iranians. Don't ask me. We didn't fire. They fired on us.
15:19My point is, if you fire at a U.S. Navy ship, what are we supposed to do? Say, oh,
15:22there's a ceasefire. We're not going to shoot down your drone.
15:24That's a stupid question. That's a stupid position to take.
15:27Of course we fired back at them. They were shooting at us. That's what I would expect to do.
15:32Only stupid countries don't shoot back when you're shot at, and we're not a stupid country.
15:35Do you expect that there, or have you conveyed any red lines to Iran where, you know, if the ceasefire
15:42or whatever you call it, if they cross certain red lines?
15:44Well, the red line is clear. If they threaten Americans, they're going to get blown up.
15:47I mean, how much clearer can you be than that? If you are a missile launching guy, whatever they call
15:53that job, and you're sitting there, and you fire a missile at the United States and we saw you fire
15:57it, we're going to hit you.
15:58Of course we are. Who doesn't do that? Unless you want to get your ships sunk.
16:02I mean, we're not going to let our ships get sunk by the Iranians with their little, you know, their
16:07drones that they're firing.
16:08You know, they don't have a navy anymore, but they bring out these little Boston whaler fishing boats and they
16:12try to swarm you.
16:13We're going to blow those boats up if they're coming towards our boats. I don't know if that's a red
16:16line, but I hope they know it is by now.
16:18So if I were one of these Iranians on a fast boat and they tell you, hey, your mission is
16:22to go after a U.S. destroyer, you're probably not going to survive.
16:25I think that's a red line.
16:27Can I use a word about the European reaction at all?
16:29Does anybody have any questions? This guy is like a monopoly over here.
16:34Yes. The president has expressed disappointment in support or lack thereof in Europe.
16:40Was there any discussion today in your meeting with Prime Minister Maloney or Foreign Minister Tahani about them providing escorts
16:46in the Strait of Hawaii?
16:48No, let me get to that level of specificity about what they — here's the bottom line, okay?
16:51Everybody says Iran is a threat. Everybody says that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon.
16:55Okay. But you've got to do something about it. The president's trying to do something about it.
17:00And I don't understand why anybody would not be supportive of that.
17:03And he doesn't understand and rightfully so are somebody would be supportive of that.
17:06But here's a more fundamental problem.
17:07Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control an international waterway.
17:13They claim that they have a right to control it.
17:15What is the world going to do about that?
17:17Is the world going to accept that Iran now controls an international waterway?
17:21Because if the world is prepared to accept that, then be ready.
17:24Because there's like ten other countries that are going to start doing the same thing in their international waterways,
17:28or in international waterways near their countries.
17:31That's an unacceptable thing that they're trying to normalize.
17:34So if the answer is no, we don't think Iran should be able to control the Straits of Hormuz,
17:38then the next question is going to be for everyone,
17:40but what are you going to do about it?
17:42What is the world prepared to do about it?
17:44And we're trying to do something about it diplomatically.
17:46We have a resolution at the United Nations that we're trying to move forward,
17:49in which the world and the UN will have an opportunity through the Security Council to vote and say,
17:54we are not going to allow them to mine the Straits.
17:57We're not going to allow them to try to control the Straits.
17:59And by the way, you have a bunch of humanitarian aid that's trapped inside the Persian Gulf
18:03and needs to be released and has not been able to move.
18:07We're going to give the world a chance to pronounce itself on it.
18:09And if Russia or China or some other country decide to veto it,
18:12then you know what the impediment is.
18:14But the fundamental question every country, not Italy,
18:16every country needs to ask themselves is,
18:18are you going to normalize a country claiming to control an international waterway?
18:23Because if you normalize that, you've set a precedent that's going to get repeated in a dozen other places.
18:27And if the answer is, no, we don't want to normalize it,
18:29then you better have something more than just strongly worded statements to back it up.
18:33And that's the point I've made in all of my visits, not just here.
18:36I didn't come to Italy just to make that point.
18:38I would say that to any country that complains about the Straits,
18:41because that's what we potentially are facing unless we get a good deal from the Iranians.
18:45We're waiting to hear that today.
18:46Mr. Secretary, can I move to Taiwan actually?
18:50Sorry to geographically go around the world.
18:54Okay.
18:54Parliament just approved a pretty big massive defense bill today or last night.
19:02There was a little bit less than what the president of Taiwan was asking for,
19:06but nonetheless, it's a big bill, including money to buy U.S. arms.
19:12What is your reaction to that, if any?
19:15And specifically in the context of the trip you will be doing with the president next week in China?
19:20Well, all I would say in context of the trip next week, in Taiwan in specific,
19:24is the United States, our policy remains unchanged.
19:27You know, we don't want to see any forced or compelled change in the situation now.
19:32I think we'll be destabilizing to the world.
19:34It's – our position on that has been – you know, we've heard, obviously, the Chinese position,
19:39but we've made our position on that clear as well.
19:43And I imagine that will be discussed in the trip, but I don't think it'll be a feature of our
19:48trip.
19:48But it'll certainly be an item that's discussed.
19:50We think it's to the benefit of China, the United States, and the world writ large
19:53that there will be stability in the straits there.
19:55And that continues to be our position.
19:57That's the one we'll continue to stand by and advocate for.
20:00All right, I have time for one more.
20:01We've got to leave.
20:01May I ask about Ukraine before you go?
20:02Yeah.
20:03You spoke with Lavrov recently, and, you know, they targeted kindergarten in Ukraine
20:06even after they advocated for ceasefire.
20:10Where does the negotiations stand by now?
20:12Well, right now, the negotiations are – we're not – we've tried to play a mediator role in that.
20:18So far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons.
20:23We remain prepared to play that role if it can be productive.
20:26We don't want to waste our time and invest time and energy in an effort that's not moving forward.
20:30But if we see an opportunity to act as a mediator that brings both sides closer to a peace deal,
20:35we'd like to see it.
20:36Our position at the end of the day is that this war is a tragedy.
20:38Both sides are paying a very heavy price for it, both economic and, obviously, at a human level.
20:45It's destructive.
20:46We're against it.
20:46And any time you tell me about strikes and people – every time I hear about these things – it
20:50just reminds us of why this war needs to end.
20:52And while we're prepared to play whatever role we can to bring it to a peaceful diplomatic resolution, unfortunately, you
20:59know, right now, those efforts have stagnated.
21:01But we always stand ready if those circumstances change.
21:03Can I just ask one on –
21:04Okay, guys?
21:04Yeah, and then I've got to go and I apologize.
21:06One on Africa.
21:06I mean, the President committed last year to personally intervening to help try to end the war in Sudan.
21:12The Pope, in one of his addresses, called this one of the world's greatest tragedies.
21:18Did this come up at all in your discussions and do you see any movement towards –
21:31There's a proxy engagement between multiple countries who are behind some of the elements that are fighting.
21:35There are other countries that are not directly involved but have allowed their national territories to be used as a
21:40way to ship weaponry.
21:42We recently had a pretty positive announcement for the first time on a statement of principles, but we have to
21:47give it some action.
21:48What we've really been focused on in Sudan is sort of establishing a humanitarian ceasefire that allows us to provide
21:54aid to people that are suffering tremendously there,
21:56but not doing so at the expense of a broader deal.
21:58So we do want the humanitarian ceasefire where we can identify a number of communities that are safe havens for
22:04the distribution of humanitarian aid,
22:06for what is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises ever.
22:09But you can't do that unless you have the security to be able to provide the aid.
22:13But we don't – we also want – we don't want that to be the final outcome.
22:17In addition to the humanitarian corridors and the humanitarian sites, we need to bring this conflict to an end.
22:24And the way to bring this conflict to an end is for the countries and the parties who are supporting
22:28the fighting elements to force these elements toward a peace deal that ends this conflict.
22:33And as I said, we've been very involved in that quad process, invested a lot of time in it, continue
22:38to be engaged on a daily basis,
22:39and in fact have people in our bureau in Africa, as well as our special envoy, Sadbulos, involved almost daily
22:46on this topic.
22:47Okay, guys, I've got to run. I apologize. Thank you.
22:49Were you surprised by your Italian origins?
22:51Oh.
22:52Mr. Secretary, were you surprised by your Italian origins?
22:54Well, not surprised today.
22:57I learned about it in 2017 when PBS did a Finding Your Roots special.
23:02Oh, okay.
23:02That's where I –
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