Marco Rubio will travel to the Philippines next week to meet with Southeast Asian counterparts at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting.
Marco Rubio will travel to the Philippines next week to attend a series of meetings hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The State Department stated that the visit aims to advance the priority of a free and open Indo-Pacific to ensure safety and prosperity for the region and the American people. During the trip, Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with foreign ministers from the ASEAN bloc and senior officials from various Indo-Pacific countries. The agenda includes addressing the repercussions of the rekindled war with Iran, the growing influence of China, and the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The administration announced that the visit will also demonstrate the tangible results of the US-ASEAN partnership and deepen the strategic relationship with Manila. The meetings will include the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference and the East Asia Summit. Marco Rubio is also expected to meet with foreign ministers from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to discuss regional security and cooperation.