Rubio, Miliband Discuss European Security

PHOTO CAPTION: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband discussed the importance of Europe taking a greater role in its own security during a meeting in Washington on Wednesday, the State Department said.

Rubio told reporters before the meeting that Ukraine would be on the agenda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has intensified appeals to allies for additional air-defense missiles as Russia increases its ballistic-missile attacks.

Miliband planned to emphasize that Ukraine’s security was inseparable from European and transatlantic security, according to Britain’s Foreign Ministry. He also intended to reaffirm the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Iran, Hormuz and Gaza also discussed

The State Department said Rubio and Miliband reiterated their commitment to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and to preventing Iran from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.

In a statement released before the meeting, Miliband said reopening the Gulf waterway was important to easing Britain’s cost-of-living pressures. He also said he would raise the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Wednesday’s meeting was the second between Rubio and Miliband following a brief introduction at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Manila in July.

Miliband, who serves as Britain’s governor on the World Bank’s board, was also scheduled to meet World Bank President Ajay Banga during his visit to Washington, Britain’s Foreign Ministry said.

(Source: Reuters)