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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Joint Statement on Sixtieth Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States of America and Japan

"The text of the following statement was released by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for the Government of the United States of America and by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono for the Government of Japan on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of America and Japan.

Begin Text:

Sixty years ago, on January 19, Japan and the United States of America…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on US Alliance with Japan

Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Silicon Valley, California. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Motegi reaffirmed the continuing strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in light of the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed continued cooperation on trade, and coordination on an array of security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, including the DPRK. They also discussed the importance of U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, and expressed commitment to…

Trilateral Meeting between Secretary Pompeo, Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Silicon Valley, California. Secretary Pompeo, Foreign Minister Kang, and Foreign Minister Motegi emphasized the importance of the U.S.-ROK and U.S.-Japan Alliances to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. They also stressed that trilateral cooperation is essential to ensure the future of peace in the region."

Secretary Esper and [Japanese Defense] Minister Kono Press Conference

"SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK T. ESPER: Well good afternoon, everyone. Minister Kono, it is a pleasure to host you today as we honor the strong defense relationship between the United States and Japan. This Sunday, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

The agreement formalized our commitment to addressing shared security concerns on the basis of freedom and democracy. Since then, we have united to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to uphold…

Joint Statement of the Trilateral Meeting of the Trade Ministers of Japan, the United States and the European Union

"Mr. KAJIYAMA Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative, and Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Trade, met in Washington, D.C. on 14 January 2020.

On industrial subsidies, the Ministers discussed ways to strengthen existing WTO rules on industrial subsidies and agreed upon the following:

1. The current list of prohibited subsidies provided for in Article 3.1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM) is insufficient to tackle market and trade distorting subsidization…

Readout of Secretary Esper's Meeting With Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono

"On January 14, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper hosted Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono at the Pentagon, where they reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and reflected on its evolution since the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security sixty years ago.

Secretary Esper and Minister Kono exchanged views on the Middle East and affirmed their commitment to advancing maritime security goals in the region. Secretary Esper reiterated the U.S. commitment to the full implementation of President Trump and Chairman Kim’s…

Remarks by Secretary Ross at the U.S.-Japan Roundtable Washington Conference

"Thank you, Ambassador Morningstar for recognizing the need to create the Global Energy Center. We are all beneficiaries of all your hard work in promoting the great partnership that exists between the United States and Japan.Thank you also to our colleagues from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for being here from Japan. We greatly appreciate METI’s support for this, the 12th Annual U.S.-Japan Roundtable Washington Conference. And we especially look forward to hearing remarks from METI’s Deputy Commissioner of the Agency for Natural…

Secretary Esper's Remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations