U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared strengthened U.S.-ASEAN ties during a press briefing on Friday, emphasising Washington role as Southeast Asia top foreign investor and a committed Pacific partner.
The diplomatic forum yielded new defence agreements, cybersecurity collaborations, and a civil nuclear cooperation pact with Malaysia, with further details to emerge in coming weeks.
In a statement, Rubio described his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as “constructive,” stressing the need for stable U.S.-China relations.
He confirmed President Donald Trump pending visit to Beijing, noting both leaders’ mutual commitment to scheduling the trip despite ongoing global tariff tensions.
Addressing concerns about new U.S. tariffs set for August 1, Rubio dismissed fears of regional backlash, calling the measures a necessary correction to decades of trade deficits.
“This isn’t targeting ASEAN—it’s a global recalibration,” he asserted, leaving room for potential bilateral adjustments.
The secretary highlighted joint efforts to combat transnational cybercrime targeting citizens in ASEAN nations and the U.S., while underscoring digital economy security as a recurring summit theme.
Friday meetings coincided with the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations, which Rubio pledged to honour through “real actions beyond symbolism.”
When pressed about discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Rubio declined specifics but confirmed continuity with previous dialogues.
The three-day ASEAN engagement concluded with plans for an October leaders’ summit to advance economic and security priorities in what Rubio called “the world growth engine for the next generation.”
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