Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – July 10, 2025 – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a productive meeting with his Japanese and Philippine counterparts on Thursday, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening its economic corridor, maritime security, and territorial integrity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The trilateral meeting, which took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, aimed to foster cooperation between the US, Japan, and the Philippines on key issues affecting the region. Rubio expressed his satisfaction with the relationship between the three nations, citing a strong foundation for collaboration on economic development, security, and defense.
“We have a great relationship with Japan and the Philippines, and work very closely with them on the economic corridor, on maritime security, and territorial integrity – and continue to build upon that partnership,” Rubio said in remarks to the press following the meeting. “We’re going to continue to do everything we can and engage in every productive way possible to bring an end to this war.”
Rubio also discussed the US’s rebalancing of trade, a key component of its economic strategy aimed at promoting fair competition and protecting American workers. The Secretary stated that the US has already seen progress with Vietnam and the UK on tariffs, and expressed hope for further agreements in the future.
In contrast, discussions about Russia were less forthcoming. Rubio acknowledged the need for continued engagement with Russia but declined to comment on potential developments or the possibility of a summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I mean, at the end of the day, the United States and Russia still have to have a relationship,” Rubio said. “These are two important countries in the world, and we’re going to continue to engage and talk.”
Despite the lack of progress on Russia, Rubio expressed optimism about the future of US-ASEAN relations, citing the region’s vast economic potential and the importance of strengthening ties with key partners.
“The history of the 21st century will largely be written in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in Southeast Asia,” Rubio said. “This is a part of the world where over 6,000 American companies have invested. These are important partnerships, both economic and defense cooperation partnerships that we’re not going to abandon and walk away from.”
As the US continues to navigate its relationships with key partners in the region, Rubio’s remarks underscored the importance of promoting economic cooperation, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
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The ASEAN-US Summit is scheduled for October 2025.
Talks between the US and Japan on trade are set to continue next week.
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