Rubio plans Middle East trip next week, Axios reports

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

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)