Official sources stated that Rubio also discussed with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot the situation in the Middle East, in particular the Gaza Strip, and the issue of the Iranian nuclear program, amid negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The secretary of State arrived in Paris, accompanied by US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, as part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to stop the Ukrainian war.

Rubio’s meetings in Paris were tense due to Trump’s tariff crusade and his recurrent criticism of the European Union (EU), which he accuses of taking advantage of the United States in trade matters.

Although the White House authorized a 90-day pause in reciprocal customs tariffs, it maintained a 25-percent tariff on steel, aluminum, and cars, and 10 percent for other products, which, according to the French president, represented a 52-billion-euro impact for the EU.

Macron urged Trump to reconsider his policy, which he criticized.

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