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.

Methodology

All Posts

Secretary Ross Discusses Importance of China's Sanctions Against North Korea

President Trump's Meeting with Korean President Moon

"President Donald J. Trump met in New York with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea to discuss the serious and escalating threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The two presidents condemned in the strongest terms North Korea’s continued provocations, including its sixth nuclear test on September 3 and is two recent launches of ballistic missiles over Japan. The leaders stressed the importance of faithful and thorough implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2371 and 2375. The two leaders also agreed that maximum…

Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Australian Minister Payne

"On September 20, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis hosted Australian Minister of Defense Marise Payne for a bilateral meeting to discuss our robust defense relationship and the regional security challenges we continue to face. [...]The two leaders also discussed concerns about destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and the threat posed by North Korea. They emphasized the importance of the international community coming together to hold Kim Jong-Un's regime accountable and pressuring North Korea to give up their illegal nuclear weapons program. Secretary Mattis…

Remarks by the Vice President to the UN Security Council

"At this very moment in Southeast Asia, we see heartbreak and assaults on human rights and innocent civilians that's ultimately endangering the sovereignty and security of the entire region. In recent weeks, the people of my country and the wider world have witnessed a great tragedy unfolding in Burma with the Rohingya people. Recently, Burmese security forces responded to militant attacks on government outposts with terrible savagery -- burning villages, driving the Rohingya from their homes. The images of the violence and its victims have…

President Trump's UN General Assembly Speech

President Trump's Call with Chinese President Xi

"President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Xi Jinping of China to discuss North Korea’s continued defiance of the international community and its efforts to destabilize Northeast Asia. The two leaders committed to maximizing pressure on North Korea through vigorous enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolutions."

Media Availability With Secretary Mattis

"What we've done with the sanctions is we are putting the leader in North Korea in a position to be aware that the international community, voting unanimously twice now in the United Nations Security Council, seeing the increasing diplomatic isolation that comes with it, comes with the economic sanction that there's a penalty to be paid for ignoring international concerns and norms."