Rubio plans Middle East trip next week, Axios reports

AI Summary

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans a Middle East trip next week, visiting Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain. He is expected to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers summit in Bahrain, signaling engagement with key Gulf countries.

June 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning a trip to the Middle East next week and is expected to visit Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain, Axios reported on Friday, citing two sources. Rubio is expected to hold a summit with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain, Axios reported later, citing a third unidentified source. The State Department did not immediately respond to an emailed request for confirmation. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Ryan Patrick Jones)