US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded his visit to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with a positive tone, hailing the engagement as productive and fruitful. The trip aimed to strengthen US ties with member nations in Southeast Asia, where Washington has deep historical and economic interests.
During meetings with various leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s counterpart Wang Yi, Rubio highlighted the importance of regular communication and cooperation on key issues like cyber security and trade. He emphasized that the US is committed to addressing growing global imbalances and trade deficits.
Rubio also discussed plans for a potential summit between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping in the coming months, stating that it was “very likely” to happen given both leaders’ interests in meeting. The visit’s focus on cyber scams targeting Americans and Southeast Asian countries was seen as a positive step towards cooperation on these issues.
While some questions raised concerns about the potential impact of US tariffs on ASEAN nations, Rubio reassured that the measures were global in scope and aimed at addressing unsustainable trade deficits with multiple countries worldwide. He noted that future arrangements could lead to changes in the tariff’s effects on individual countries.
Source: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/07/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-the-press