US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit. This marks his first official visit to Asia since taking office in January 2025.
Washington Refocuses on the Indo-Pacific
After months of concentrating on the Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asia crisis, the US is turning its attention back to Asia.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed this shift. She said, “In his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, Secretary Rubio is focused on reaffirming the United States’ commitment to advancing a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.”
US Sees Strategic Value in Southeast Asia
A senior official emphasized that it is “in America’s interest” to remain committed to East and Southeast Asia. President Trump has received advice to prioritize this region, especially due to China’s growing influence.
Meanwhile, recent efforts by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby have pushed the US to scale down involvement in West Asia.
Trump’s New Tariffs Raise Regional Concerns
Rubio’s visit comes shortly after Trump imposed fresh tariffs on several Asian countries. These include a 25% tariff on Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, and a 40% tariff on goods from Laos.
These new tariffs will likely dominate discussions at the summit. The senior official told The Business Times that Rubio will assure ASEAN leaders the US wants to “rebalance” trade relationships, not disrupt them.
Rubio Postpones Japan and South Korea Legs
Originally, Rubio planned to begin his Asia trip with visits to Japan and South Korea. However, he postponed those meetings to stay involved in Gaza ceasefire talks, Nikkei reported.
In Japan, Rubio had scheduled talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. They were set to discuss tariffs, West Asian conflicts, and security threats from China, Russia, and North Korea.
