The next is the transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on Feb. 16, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Just right morning and welcome to “Face the Country.” We wish to start as of late with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who’s in Jerusalem on the second one leg of his travel thru Europe and the Heart East. Mr. Secretary, I are aware of it’s the night hours there, and you will have had a protracted day. We respect your time. You have got relatively a hectic time table. You met previous with Top Minister Netanyahu. He stated he is lock step with the Trump management, however he can not proportion main points on, quote, “when the gates of hell will probably be open…if all our hostages aren’t launched.” Did he inform you he desires to stay talks going to get to segment two of this hostage deal?
SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO: Smartly, I believe we proportion a commonplace function. We wish to see each and every hostage launched. Frankly, I believe, and the President has stated this, we wish to see them out once we most likely can. And- and unquestionably, you understand, the arena has watched those pictures of other folks, and it is simply heartbreaking to needless to say a few of them were now nearly two years there. It is a scary scenario. So we coordinate and paintings very shut with them. We proportion the function that each and every hostage wishes to come back house, each and every unmarried one, immediately. Clearly, the- there are main points of ways we are pursuing that and coordinating that we aren’t going to proportion publicly as a result of we do not wish to endanger the hostages and we do not wish to endanger this procedure. However suffice it to mention that if it was once as much as us, each and every such a hostages could be house at this time, and we would like it to occur once imaginable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, so the deal stands?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Once more, we would like each and every hostage out once imaginable, and- and we wish to see them house. There are some which might be intended to- underneath the deal, there are some that should be launched bobbing up subsequent weekend. We think that to occur, however we would like to peer all of them pop out. We aren’t going to- we aren’t in desire of ready weeks and weeks. Now, that can be the method that is in position on account of the deal, however we wish to see all of them out once imaginable, and we proceed to coordinate. That- that is what we would like to peer as the result. Who would not need some of these hostages to be house and with their households?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. I wish to ask you about Iran as neatly. President Trump has stated he desires a diplomatic handle Iran. Are you attaining out to them? And along that, does the U.S. make stronger a preemptive strike via Israel on Iran to take out its nuclear program?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Smartly, to start with, Israel will at all times must act in what they consider is their nationwide passion and their nationwide protection. And so I am not going to talk about no matter methods they will have in this or every other subject. I will be able to say that we have no outreach from Iran. We have not noticed any, and in the long run, we have noticed up to now that efforts that Iran has undertaken diplomatically were simplest about prolong the time period that- however proceed to complement and rep- and- and along with backed terrorism, along with construct those lengthy vary guns, along with sow instability right through the area. However let’s be transparent, there is been 0 outreach or passion up to now from Iran about any negotiated deal. Preferably, yeah, I would really like to get up sooner or later and listen to the scoop that Iran has determined to not pursue a nuclear weapon, to not sponsor terrorism, and re-engage on this planet as a- as a- as a regular govt. Now we have had no indication of any of that, no longer simply now, however for 30 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you head from Israel to Saudi Arabia subsequent, I do know you can be speaking about Gaza, however we have additionally realized that Saudi Arabia is attempting to facilitate this international relations with Russia about Ukraine. Which Russian officers do you are expecting to be assembly with, and what’s going to the focal point of your talks there be? Do you in fact consider Vladimir Putin is able to negotiate and make concessions?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Smartly, here is what I do know. I do know President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin remaining week, and in it, Vladimir Putin expressed his passion in peace, and the President expressed his need to peer an finish to this clash in some way that was once enduring and that secure Ukrainian sovereignty, and that was once a long-lasting peace, no longer that we are going to have some other invasion in 3 or 4 years. That is a excellent name. Now, clearly it needs to be adopted up via motion, so the following couple of weeks and days will resolve whether or not it is severe or no longer. In the end, one telephone name does no longer make peace. One telephone name does no longer remedy a struggle as advanced as this one. However I will be able to inform you that Donald Trump is the one chief on this planet that would doubtlessly start that procedure. Different leaders have attempted, they’ve no longer been in a position to take action. When he ran in his marketing campaign and he was once elected as president, one in all his guarantees was once, he would paintings to deliver an finish to this clash in some way that is sustainable and honest. And clearly, you understand, this is step one in that procedure, however now we have a protracted techniques to move. Once more, one name does not make it, one assembly would not make it. This- there is numerous paintings to be performed. However I- I believed it has- you understand, even the longest adventure starts with step one. So we’re going to see what occurs from right here, expectantly excellent issues.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Who will you be assembly with?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Smartly, not anything’s been finalized but. I used to be scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia anyhow, we invited- we introduced that travel every week in the past, and- every week and a part in the past. So in the long run, glance, if at any cut-off date there is a chance to proceed the paintings that President Trump began remaining week, to start to create a gap for a broader dialog, that it will contain Ukraine and would contain the top of the struggle, and would contain our allies far and wide the arena, specifically in Europe, we are going to discover it, if that chance gifts itself. I should not have any main points for you this morning, rather then to mention that we stand able to apply the president’s lead in this and start to discover techniques, if the ones alternatives provide itself, to start out a procedure against peace. Now, a procedure against peace isn’t a one-meeting factor. This struggle has been occurring for some time. It is tricky, it is difficult. It is been bloody, it is been pricey, so it’s going to no longer be simple to finish a conflict- and there are different events at stake that experience critiques in this as neatly. The Ecu Union has sanctions as neatly. The Ukrainians are patently combating this struggle. It is their nation, and they are at the entrance strains. So, one assembly is not going to resolve it, however I wish to reiterate, the President made transparent he desires to finish this struggle, and if alternatives provide themselves to additional that, we are going to take them in the event that they provide themselves. We’re going to see what occurs over the following couple of days.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However to be transparent, Keith Kellogg, who’s the envoy appointed to lend a hand with those talks, says those are going to be parallel negotiations, which means the Ukrainians and Russians don’t seem to be speaking to one another but. Whilst you meet together with your Russian counterpart, whoever this is, are you going to be sitting there arguing Ukraine’s place?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Smartly, to start with, I believe the- we need to perceive is, at this time there’s no procedure. What- what now we have at this time is a decision between Putin and President Trump by which each side expressed an passion in finishing this clash. I believe there will probably be apply up conversations to determine what a procedure to speak about that will seem like, after which at that time, most likely we will be able to start to proportion extra main points. So it is a bit untimely. I do know there is been numerous response to it, as a result of there is been no dialog about it, any severe dialog, however I wish to return to the purpose I made. President Trump ran, he was once very transparent, he thinks this struggle wishes to finish, and if he sees a chance to finish it, which is what he is searching for, whether or not there is a chance or no longer, we are going to pursue it. In the end, it’s going to achieve some extent whilst you are- if it is actual negotiations, and we aren’t there but, but when that had been to occur, Ukraine should be concerned, as a result of they are the person who had been invaded, and the Europeans should be concerned for the reason that oth- they’ve sanctions on Putin and Russia as neatly, and- and they have contributed to this effort. We are simply no longer there but. We in reality don’t seem to be, however expectantly we can be, as a result of we would all like to peer this struggle finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Without a doubt, the remaining management did have touch throughout the intelligence companies with Russia, however they did not consider there was once any evidence that Vladimir Putin was once desirous about talks. You recognize the historical past with Vladimir Putin. He likes to make use of international relations as a canopy to distract whilst he continues to salary struggle. Do you believe that this time is other?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I don’t believe in geopolitics, someone must believe someone. I believe these items must be verified thru movements. I stated the previous day that peace isn’t a noun, it is a verb. It is an motion. You must take concrete steps against it. What I will be able to inform you is, I do know of no higher negotiator in American politics than President Trump. I do not- I believe President Trump will know in no time whether or not they say- is that this an actual factor, or whether or not that is an effort to shop for time. However I do not wish to prejudge that. I do not wish to foreclose the chance to finish a clash that is already value the lives of loads of hundreds and continues each and every unmarried day to be, increasingly more, a struggle of attrition on each side. I believe everybody must be celebrating the truth that now we have an American president that is looking for to advertise peace on this planet, no longer get started wars, however finish them, in some way that is enduring. That is one thing we must be at liberty about. Whether or not it is imaginable or no longer, we are unquestionably prepared, however it isn’t solely as much as us, clearly, however we’re going to to find out.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, you probably did discuss in a telephone name with Russia’s best diplomat, Sergei Lavrov. The Russian aspect claimed that you simply mentioned restoring industry, which gave the look to be a nod to sanctions, easing restrictions on diplomats, and different gestures like a prime degree leaders assembly. Are you in fact considering- is the Trump management thinking lifting sanctions on Russia?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Smartly, the telephone name was once to determine communications which might be in line with the decision the President made remaining week with Vladimir Putin. As a result of if- we are- if there may be going to be the chance of- of growth right here against peace, we’re going to wish to communicate to the Russians. I imply, this is going to must occur, and we are going to have with the intention to be capable to do it throughout our channels–
MARGARET BRENNAN: About lifting sanctions, although?
SECRETARY RUBIO: –I additionally raised in that dialog issues that- neatly, we did not cross into any main points. I imply, what we simply mentioned is principally the power to start out speaking. I would by no means spoken to Mr. Lavrov in my existence, so it was once a chance for us to start to open that channel of verbal exchange, which, once more, if there is the possibility of peace right here, that is a channel that has to exist. However let me upload yet one more factor. I additionally raised the problem of our embassy in Moscow, which operates underneath very tricky prerequisites. I raised that as a result of it is crucial, it will be very tricky to have interaction in verbal exchange with Russia about the rest if our embassy isn’t functioning. And he raised issues about his diplomatic challenge in the USA. So at an excessively elementary degree, if, in reality, there may be going to be a chance right here to pursue peace via attractive with the Russians, we are going to wish to have useful embassies in Moscow and in Washington, D.C., and that’s the reason unquestionably one thing overseas ministers would discuss as a question of standard direction.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you about what came about in Munich, Germany, on the Safety Convention. Vice President Vance gave a speech, and he advised U.S. allies that the risk he worries about essentially the most isn’t Russia, it isn’t China. He known as it the “risk from inside,” and he lectured about what he described as censorship, basically focusing, although, on together with extra perspectives from the fitting. He additionally met with the chief of a far-right celebration referred to as the AfD, which, as you understand, is underneath investigation and tracking via German intelligence on account of extremism. What did all of this accomplish, rather then frustrating our allies?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Why would our allies or any one be annoyed via loose speech and via anyone giving their opinion? We’re, in the end, democracies. The Munich- Munich Safety Convention is in large part a convention of democracies by which one of the vital issues that we cherish and price is the power to talk freely and supply your critiques. And so, I believe if someone’s indignant about his phrases, they do not have to believe him, however to be indignant about it, I believe in fact makes his level. I believed it was once in fact an attractive historical speech, whether or not you believe him or no longer. I believe the legitimate issues he is making to Europe is, we’re involved that the real values that we proportion, the values that bind us along side Europe, are such things as loose speech and democracy and our shared historical past in successful two global wars and defeating Soviet communism and the like. Those are the values that we shared in commonplace, and in that chilly struggle we fought towards such things as censorship and oppression and so on, and whilst you see backsliding, and also you elevate that, that is an excessively legitimate fear. We will’t inform them run their international locations. We’re- he merely expressed in a speech his view of it, which numerous other folks, frankly, proportion. And I believed he stated numerous issues in that speech that had to be stated. And in truth, I have no idea why any one could be dissatisfied about it. Individuals are- you understand, you should not have to agree on anyone’s speech. I occur to believe numerous what he stated, however you should not have to believe anyone’s speech to- to a minimum of respect the truth they’ve a correct to mention it and that you simply must pay attention to it and notice whether or not the ones criticisms are legitimate. I guarantee you, the USA has come underneath withering grievance on many events from many leaders in Europe, and we do not cross round throwing mood tantrums about it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, he was once status in a rustic the place loose speech was once weaponized to habits a genocide, and he met with the top of a political celebration that has far-right perspectives and a few historical ties to excessive teams. The context of that was once converting the tone of it. And you understand that. That the censorship was once in particular concerning the right–
SECRETARY RUBIO: — Smartly I’ve to disagree with you. No- I’ve- I’ve to disagree with you. Loose speech was once no longer used to habits a genocide. The genocide was once performed via an authoritarian Nazi regime that came about to even be genocidal as a result of they hated Jews and so they hated minorities and so they hated those who they- that they had an inventory of other folks they hated, however essentially the Jews. There was once no loose speech in Nazi Germany. There was once none. There was once additionally no opposition in Nazi Germany, they had been a sole and simplest celebration that ruled that nation. So that isn’t a correct mirrored image of historical past. I additionally suppose it is wrong- once more, I’m going again to the purpose of his speech. The purpose of his speech was once principally that there’s an erosion in loose speech and intolerance or opposing issues of view inside Europe, and that’s the reason of outrage as a result of this is eroding. That is not an erosion of your army features, that isn’t an erosion of your financial status, that is an erosion of the particular values that bind us in combination on this transatlantic union that everyone talks about, and I believe allies and buddies and companions that experience labored in combination now for 80 years, must be capable to discuss frankly to each other in open boards with out being indignant, insulted, or dissatisfied. And I spoke to Overseas Ministers from a couple of international locations right through Europe. Lots of them most probably did not just like the speech or did not believe it, however they had been proceeding to have interaction with us on all varieties of problems that unite us. So once more, on the finish of the day, I believe that, you understand, other folks give all- that could be a discussion board by which you are intended to be inviting other folks to provide speeches, no longer principally a refrain the place everyone seems to be pronouncing the very same factor. That is not at all times going to be the case when it is a selection of democracies the place leaders have the fitting and the privilege to talk their minds in boards comparable to those.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, I am advised that we’re out of time. So much to get thru with you. We respect you making time as of late. We’re going to be again in a minute.
