The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations

This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.

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Secretary Mattis's Meeting with Korea Minister of National Defense Jeong

"Our nations bonds were forged in the tragedy of war, and they endure as we strive to continue fortifying and deepening our ironclad alliance in support of the Korean peoples freedom and of peace. During today's Security Consultative Meeting, our delegation did just that -- we signed our mutually declared alliance guiding principles, a document which paves the way for clarifying the conditions-based transition of wartime operational control of our combined forces.In signing this document, we ensure continuity for the ROK-led future Combined Forces Command…

President Trump's Remarks at Rally in Illinois - China and North Korea

President Trump's Remarks at Rally in Wisconsin - Japan, North Korea, and South Korea

President Trump's Remarks on Trade with South Korea

"We also completed a wonderful new deal with South Korea. This was a deal that the previous administration did. And they promised 250,000 jobs. They said, “This will create 250,000 new jobs.” And they were right — for South Korea, not for us. (Laughter.) They produced 250,000 jobs; we got nothing, except loss. So we’ve renegotiated the deal with South Korea. Now, it’s a reasonable deal."

Secretary Mattis’s Tri-lateral Meeting with Japan and the Republic of Korea

"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Defense Ministers Takeshi Iwaya of Japan and Jeong Kyeong-doo of the Republic of Korea, to reaffirm the long-standing defense relationships between the three nations.The leaders discussed a broad range of defense and policy issues, and the Secretary thanked the Ministers for their country’s commitment to a prosperous, enduring relationship with the United States.They agreed to continue expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and East Asia. Secretary Mattis acknowledged Japan and South Korea for being staunch allies during turbulent…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meeting with ROK Minister of Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo

"ROK Minister of Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo and the U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met for the first time on October 19 on the margins of the 5th ASEAN Defense Minister’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus). They discussed steps to strengthen the Alliance and build confidence and cooperation to enhance regional security.

Minister Jeong and Secretary Mattis look forward to the 50th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) scheduled on October 31 in Washington D.C., where they will reaffirm the robust ROK – U.S. ironclad Alliance."

President Trump Oval Office Meeting with Kanye West and Jim Brown - North Korea

President Trump's Remarks at Rally in Iowa - South Korea

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Seoul, Republic of Korea

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo visited Seoul October 7-8 and met with President Moon and Foreign Minister Kang to give a readout of his October 7 trip to Pyongyang. Secretary Pompeo briefed on his meeting with Chairman Kim, which included his introducing Chairman Kim to Special Representative for North Korea Biegun as his chief negotiator, plans for a second U.S.-DPRK summit, and discussions on achieving the commitments of the June Singapore Summit including the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK as committed to…

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo held productive discussions with Chairman Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang Sunday. They discussed the four elements contained in the U.S.-DPRK Singapore Summit Joint Statement signed by President Trump and Chairman Kim. They also discussed the upcoming second summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim and refined options for the location and date of that next summit.

Secretary Pompeo was joined by Special Representative Stephen E. Biegun and Chairman Kim was joined by Kim Yo-jong, First Vice Director of the Korean…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks With South Korean President Moon Jae-in

"First of all, thank you. Thank you for hosting me, President Moon. It’s great to be here. It was important that I come here tonight on my visit today. You all have been an incredibly important part of the success that we have all had to date, but what we all hope will be the denuclearization and the change in the relationship here on the peninsula. And then, two, I don’t have much to add. I will certainly tell you in private about our conversation…