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.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Secretary Pompeo's Meeting With Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj
"Secretary Pompeo met today in New Delhi, India with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj ahead of the opening of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Swaraj discussed joint efforts to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary and Minister Swaraj also discussed efforts to expand the bilateral trade relationship, the importance of moving forward on civil-nuclear cooperation, and the goal of deepening people-to-people ties."
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Joint Statement on the Inaugural U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
"The Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of India’s designation as a Major Defense Partner (MDP) of the United States and committed to expand the scope of India’s MDP status and take mutually agreed upon steps to strengthen defense ties further and promote better defense and security coordination and cooperation. They noted the rapid growth in bilateral defense trade and the qualitative improvement in levels of technology and equipment offered by the United States to India in recent years. They welcomed the inclusion of India by…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on India and North Korea
North Korea
"So as I’ve said consistently as we’ve been continuing to work with the North Koreans to deliver on the world’s demands, the UN Security Council resolutions, which demand a number of things from North Korea and from no one else. There’s only country that has a commitment under those Security Council resolutions.
As I’ve said before, I’m not going to talk about ongoing negotiations, discussions that we’re having, with the North Koreans. We will work – we will continue to work with them to…
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ASEAN Day 2018
"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I am honored to congratulate the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat on the organization’s 51st anniversary on August 8th. For over 40 years, U.S.-ASEAN engagement has helped foster a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Southeast Asia. I welcome ASEAN’s role as a centerpiece of the Indo-Pacific’s regional architecture and its contributions to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The United States is proud to support…
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Secretary Pompeo's Meeting With Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith
"Secretary Pompeo met today with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on the margins of the ASEAN-centered ministerials in Singapore. The Secretary welcomed Laos as the United States’ incoming ASEAN coordinator, and underscored the U.S. commitment to the Lower Mekong Initiative, through which the United States partners with Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam to advance transboundary cooperation. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister affirmed our strong bilateral ties, and highlighted the positive impact of cooperation on development assistance, the clearance of unexploded ordnance, and…
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Joint Statement To Strengthen Water Data Management and Information Sharing in The Lower Mekong
"Do hereby endeavor to:
Strengthen the individual capacity of the Lower Mekong Countries to collect, analyze and manage water (quality and quantity; surface and ground), land, and weather data and information products for the purposes of reducing water-related risks, improving regional responses to environmental emergencies, and promoting sustainable economic development across the water, food, energy, and environment nexus."
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U.S. Security Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region
"At the ASEAN Regional Forum on August 4, Secretary Pompeo announced the intent to provide nearly $300 million in security assistance to improve security relationships across the Indo-Pacific region. This assistances includes $290.5 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to strengthen maritime security, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), and peacekeeping capabilities, and $8.5 million in International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds to counter transnational crime. This funding commitment comes shortly after Secretary Pompeo and other senior Administration officials announced new economic and development initiatives at…
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Joint Statement on the Eleventh Ministerial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative
"The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers approved a joint plan to update and streamline the LMI [Lower Mekong Initiative] to be more dynamic in responding to the sub-region’s needs by combining previous work streams into two inclusive pillars: 1) the Water, Energy, Food, and Environment Nexus; and 2) Human Development and Connectivity (which will include but is not limited to activities related to connectivity, health, and education). Member countries will integrate the themes of gender equality and women’s empowerment, connectivity, and public-private partnership across all…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial
"Allow me to highlight a few of our recent successes and new programs under the LMI [Lower Mekong Initiative]. Our flagship education program, Connecting the Mekong through Education and Training, has given over 44,000 students access to opportunities to learn innovative skills in high demand in the private sector. Another training opportunity comes in the form of the U.S.-Singapore Third Country Training Program, which continues to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity to address modern challenges ranging from cybersecurity to waste management. Our U.S. Department of Agriculture will…
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Secretary Tillerson's Press Availability With New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English
"SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, and let me thank you and also Foreign Minister Brownlee for the warm welcome. And I am really delighted that we were able to make this stop in New Zealand to reaffirm the strong partnership that exists between the United States and New Zealand. We had very productive discussions on many topics, as the prime minister just described to you.
This relationship between our two nations – I know, as I think many of you know, we…
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President Trump's Statement on the Paris Climate Accord
"China will be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal plants. So we can’t build the plants, but they can, according to this agreement. India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020. Think of it: India can double their coal production. We’re supposed to get rid of ours. Even Europe is allowed to continue construction of coal plants. In short, the agreement doesn’t eliminate coal jobs, it just transfers those jobs out of America and the United States, and ships them to…