Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/08/on-ceasefire-deal-between-cambodia-and-thailand/

Message to U.S. Citizens in Malaysia
U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
July 31, 2025

Location: Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Event:  U.S. Citizen Passport, CRBA, and Notarial Services

The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will offer passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), and notarial appointments for U.S. citizens in Terengganu the afternoon of Monday, August 18, 2025 (exact time and location TBD).  Please see below for details regarding these services and appointments before requesting your slot.

Please note that all fees for passport and CRBA services must be paid online via the U.S. government’s secure payment site and notarial services must be paid via banker’s cheque (not personal cheque).  More information about payment requirements will be sent in the appointment confirmation email.

Register Now! 
Please register your interest here no later than Wednesday, August 13 to receive further details on the venue, and to book a passport/CRBA/notarial appointment slot.  These services are limited to U.S. citizens (or parents of U.S. citizen minors) only.

 Assistance: 

• U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
  • Phone number: +603-2168-5000
  • Email address: KLACS@state.gov
  • Embassy website: https://my.usembassy.gov
• State Department – Consular Affairs
• +1 (888) 407-4747 or +1 (202) 501-4444
• Malaysia Country Information
• Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter/X

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/2025/07/secretary-rubios-call-with-malaysian-foreign-minister-hasan/

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to thank the Malaysian government for its role in deescalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia and successfully facilitating a ceasefire agreement over the ongoing border dispute. Secretary Rubio reiterated President Trump’s desire for peace and the importance of the ceasefire. The United States supports future discussions on ceasefire implementation in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia.

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Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/07/secretary-of-state-marco-rubioat-the-asean-post-ministerial-conference-with-the-united-states/

FOREIGN MINISTER SOKHONN: Thank you (inaudible). Secretary Marco Rubio, dear colleagues, at the outset, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Malaysia as ASEAN chair for the excellent arrangement of this meeting. I wish to extend a warm welcome to Secretary Rubio on his first ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the United States.

We gather at a moment of increasing global uncertainty, marked by heightened (inaudible) tension, internal challenges, and complex, interconnected transnational issues. In this evolving environment, the ASEAN-U.S. partnership has proven not only resilient but essential. Since elevating our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, we have made significant progress in turning our shared vision into concrete action.

Over the years, ASEAN and the United States has built a relationship that is both broad in scope and deep in substance. Our collaboration encompass economic engagement, (inaudible) innovation, combating transnational crime, maritime cooperation, health security, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges. Together, these effort demonstrate our collective confidence in the enduring future of our strategic partnership.

Today, we reaffirm our determination to deepen and broaden our cooperation even further. I look forward to a productive discussion that will generate fresh ideas, strengthen mutual trust, and chart a clear course forward. Thank you.

Now may I invite my co-chair to deliver his opening remarks. The floor is yours, Secretary Rubio.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you, and thank you, Mr. Minister. We’re thankful to Cambodia’s partnership as the U.S. country coordinator in the past year, and we look forward to continuing to work together for the next few years as well in this regard. We’re also grateful to our host here, Malaysia, for your hospitality, your strong leadership as the chair. I look forward to working with the Philippines, who will be the chair next year, and we’re excited about that. Thank you to the ASEAN secretary as well for your support, and a special thanks to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for hard work – the hard work of supporting our partnership work.

I’m honored to represent the administration of President Donald Trump in my first foreign ministerial between ASEAN and the United States. The Indo-Pacific, the region, remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy. When I hear in the news that perhaps the United States or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I would say distraction is impossible, because it is our view – our strong view and the reality – that this century and the next – the story of the next 50 years will largely be written here in this region, in this part of the world.

Because of your youth, because of your – two-thirds of global growth will happen in this region, it is impossible to ignore it, to sideline it, and we have no intention of doing so. In fact, we intend it to be – a key component of our engagement with the world is to be engaged here in the region. We’ve been engaged for a very long time. We have strong partnerships we have no intention of abandoning, but rather strengthening and building upon.

The United States is a committed partner to ASEAN. It’s central to the regional architecture that shapes these dynamics. In fact, ASEAN is the preeminent mechanism by which we engage with a region, a region that we do not consider to be a periphery of any nation-state. We consider it to be sovereign, independent states with whom we have longstanding relationships and partnerships, and these are relationships and partnerships that we intend to continue to build on without seeking the approval or permission of any other actor in the region or the world.

Together, we believe that in doing this we’re going to be able to advance our common goal and interest, which is a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and that is prosperous, and that is in line with our national priority and objective of promoting the safety, the security, and the prosperity of the people of the United States of America. Our nearly 50-year partnership demonstrates that there are many areas where our interests align and we can work together to achieve shared goals, and I look forward to discussing areas of cooperation as we advance our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Thank you. I yield the floor back to the co-chair.

Press Statement

Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/07/united-states-and-malaysia-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-concerning-strategic-civil-nuclear-cooperation-and-launch-negotiations-for-a-civil-nuclear-cooperation-agreement/

Today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan of Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation (NCMOU) with the aim of advancing peaceful nuclear cooperation between the United States and Malaysia.

The United States and Malaysia enjoy a longstanding and multifaceted diplomatic relationship strengthened by decades of cooperation in security, energy, and commerce.  The signing of this NCMOU marks an important step toward establishing a robust civil nuclear partnership between the United States and Malaysia.

In addition, the two countries have launched negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The launching of negotiations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (123 Agreement) advances the Trump Administration’s Executive Order 14299, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security” and will promote international civil nuclear cooperation; advance American energy dominance, establish multidecade strategic energy partnerships with U.S. allies and partners; and promote the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.

123 Agreements establish a legally binding framework for significant peaceful nuclear cooperation between the United States and its partners, providing a foundation for long-term, strategic civil nuclear partnerships globally.  123 Agreements also aid the United States economy by promoting U.S. commercial competitiveness in the global civil nuclear market and providing greater opportunities for increased civil nuclear sales globally.

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/07/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-malaysian-prime-minister-anwar/

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur. Secretary Rubio congratulated Prime Minister Anwar on Malaysia’s successful ASEAN Chair year and thanked Malaysia for hosting the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings. Secretary Rubio further reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the U.S.-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership and to deepening our nations’ economic and security ties.

Secretary Rubio reiterated our shared interest in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to deepen our defense and security cooperation through enhanced maritime law enforcement operations in the South China Sea. Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Anwar also committed to strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear energy, critical minerals, and advanced technology, including joint efforts to build resilient critical mineral supply chains and enhance the security of AI chip technologies. Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Anwar underscored the importance of continuing to advance our partnership to mutually benefit Americans and Malaysians.

Press Statement
Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson
Permalink: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/07/secretary-rubios-travel-to-malaysia/

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Kuala Lumpur July 8-12 to participate in the ASEAN-United States Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. He is also scheduled to meet with senior Malaysian government officials.

In his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, Secretary Rubio is focused on reaffirming the United States’ commitment to advancing a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.

During this trip, the Secretary will highlight the strength of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN in delivering results for the American people and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as our commitment to building on our Comprehensive Partnership with Malaysia.

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David “Chip” Gamble
Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur