Meinl-Reisinger with Rubio: US 'values Vienna as a place to negotiate'
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger held a video call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing three main topics: the situation on the Western Balkans, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the Iran conflict regarding the Strait of Hormuz. During their conversation, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized Austria's role in global diplomacy and highlighted the importance of Vienna as a negotiation venue. She noted that the U.S. does not currently see a window for negotiations regarding Russia's actions in Ukraine, while expressing hope for resolving issues related to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The discussion also touched on trade issues and U.S. plans for Greenland, with Meinl-Reisinger stressing the need to uphold international law. Earlier, Austria won a significant victory in the UN Security Council membership race, securing support from 131 countries compared to Germany's 104. Meinl-Reisinger outlined priorities for her two-year term, including regulating AI weapons, protecting civilians, and combating climate change.
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger held a “very good and substantial” discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The meeting took place during her visit to the United States, which she described as part of preparations for Austria’s upcoming seat on the United Nations Security Council from 2027 to 2028. According to Meinl-Reisinger, the conversation focused primarily on developments in the Western Balkans, the situation in Ukraine, and issues in the Middle East. She emphasized that fundamental points of divergence, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), were avoided during the talks. The Austrian minister stated that both countries share a common stance regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with the United States clearly supporting Kyiv through military aid and sanctions against Russia. She noted that the U.S. should be judged by its actions rather than rhetoric, particularly under a potential future administration led by Donald Trump. Both sides agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “playing for time,” and Rubio expressed the view that there is currently no opportunity for negotiations. Despite this, the U.S. official acknowledged Vienna's potential as a negotiation venue, stating that “Vienna is doing a very good job as a negotiation location.” The visit was framed as a continuation of Austria’s diplomatic efforts ahead of its Security Council tenure, following a previous meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing earlier this year. While a trip to Moscow was not planned, technical cooperation and meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in multilateral forums remain possible, though more intensive exchanges are unlikely. Regarding developments in Iran, Rubio did not indicate any imminent deal, citing the Iranian government’s tendency to raise new issues just before reaching an agreement in discussions involving Oman around the Strait of Hormuz. Meinl-Reisinger stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation despite the economic impact of blockades, especially on developing nations. She confirmed plans for a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araktschi later in the week. On the Western Balkans, Meinl-Reisinger highlighted Austria’s role, noting that the country will assume command of the EU mission EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina next year. She emphasized the shared goal of ensuring stability in the region and continued collaboration with the U.S. In discussing the successor to the International Representative for Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, who resigned earlier this year, Meinl-Reisinger suggested Europe should first agree on a candidate before consulting with the U.S. There is currently a deadlock between Washington and European powers over the appointment, with the U.S. pushing for an Italian diplomat. Louis J. Crishock, a U.S. diplomat, has taken over the key political position in Bosnia and Herzegovina since Schmidt’s departure in early July. Meanwhile, the Austrian foreign minister reiterated the need for clarity in bilateral relations, criticizing the back-and-forth over customs issues as detrimental to economic cooperation. She also clarified that discussions about the U.S. annexation plans for Greenland were not addressed, as the matter is considered internal to the White House. However, she maintained that international law must be respected. Austria secured its seat on the UN Security Council after a successful campaign in June, receiving more votes than Germany in a secret ballot. The minister outlined priorities for Austria’s two-year term, including regulating AI weapons systems, protecting civilians, and combating climate change. This will be Austria’s fourth stint on the council since 1973, and the country will hold the rotating presidency in July 2027. Access to Security Council documents began in August, and Austrian representatives will attend sessions as observers starting in October.
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