U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his first official visit to Asia this week, attending meetings with Southeast Asian counterparts in Kuala Lumpur. The trip comes amid heightened regional concern over recently announced U.S. tariffs, which have affected multiple countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Rubio participated in a summit with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), alongside representatives from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the European Union. The visit is part of a broader U.S. effort to reaffirm engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and shift attention from other areas where the administration has been heavily involved, such as Europe and the Middle East.
During the meetings, Rubio emphasised that the Indo-Pacific remains a central focus of U.S. foreign policy. He described the region as critical to global development over the coming decades and addressed concerns that Washington may be distracted by other global issues.
However, the recent imposition of U.S. tariffs on eight ASEAN members—as well as on Japan and South Korea—has raised questions about the consistency of U.S. policy in the region. The tariffs, scheduled to take effect on August 1, have been a central topic during Rubio’s discussions.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in public remarks, suggested that Japan should reduce its reliance on the United States in key areas such as defence, energy, and food security, citing growing concerns over trade policies.
Analysts noted that Rubio’s visit aimed to present the United States as a more reliable long-term partner than China, despite current tensions. Some experts pointed out that the timing of the tariff announcements may have complicated that message, as countries received official notice of new duties while diplomatic meetings were taking place.
A former U.S. official now working in international consultancy noted that trade disputes, defence spending demands, and uncertainties around U.S. security commitments have contributed to a strain in relations with key allies, particularly Japan. While the possibility of a trade agreement could help ease tensions, there is recognition that dissatisfaction with U.S. policy is growing among some partners.
Diplomatic Engagements Continue
Rubio also held bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking their second face-to-face meeting. He said the discussion included U.S. concerns over Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine, and that the U.S. is seeking clearer indications of how the conflict might be resolved.
The Russian Foreign Ministry described the talks as substantive, covering issues related to Ukraine, Syria, and Iran.
Rubio indicated a possible meeting later in the week with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In a separate meeting, Wang and Lavrov emphasised increased cooperation between China and Russia, including efforts to support peace in the Middle East and advance diplomatic discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. Wang also pledged China’s support for ASEAN’s implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Tariffs and Economic Concerns
The U.S. tariffs have become a central issue in Rubio’s engagements with regional leaders. He acknowledged that the topic was raised repeatedly but stated that it does not define the entirety of U.S. relationships in the region.
He announced that a senior U.S. delegation, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, will travel to Japan in the coming days for further discussions.
ASEAN, collectively one of the world’s largest economies, relies heavily on exports. So far, Vietnam is the only ASEAN member to secure a revised U.S. tariff rate, lowered to 20% from an initially proposed 46%.
Australia, another major U.S. partner in the region, has also expressed concern over proposed 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the United States. The Australian government has requested additional details regarding the policy.
During a broader regional session, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Asia is experiencing multiple challenges, including the effects of rising unilateralism and nationalism. He stressed the importance of preserving multilateral cooperation for global stability.
Rubio also met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss economic and technological collaboration. Topics included securing supply chains for critical minerals and ensuring the integrity of AI chip production. Anwar said that tariffs were the first issue discussed and that Rubio pledged to convey Malaysia’s concerns to President Trump.
A draft ASEAN statement, prepared before the most recent tariff announcements, notes concern about rising global uncertainty and the impact of unilateral trade measures, though it does not specifically reference the United States.
