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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President Trump's Meeting with Chinese President Xi

"President Donald J. Trump met today with President Xi Jinping of China at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. President Trump discussed the destabilizing threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the need to respond to North Korea’s major escalation involving the test of an ICBM. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The two leaders also reviewed work in other areas in the bilateral relationship, including economic issues such as reciprocal trade and market access. President Trump…

President Trump's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Abe

"President Donald J. Trump met today with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The two leaders condemned North Korea’s July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which showed that North Korea is a threat to the United States and its allies, and countries around the world. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe affirmed that the international community must address North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs quickly and decisively. President Trump reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of…

Joint Statement from the United States of America, Republic of Korea, and Japan

"President Donald J. Trump, President Moon Jae-in [of South Korea], and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [of Japan] met in Hamburg, Germany, on July 6 to discuss the serious and escalating threat posed by the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The three leaders condemned the DPRK’s unprecedented launch, on July 4, of a ballistic missile with intercontinental range, a major escalation that directly violates multiple United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and that clearly demonstrates the growing threat…

President Trump's Remarks on North Korea

"As far as North Korea is concerned, I don't know, we will see what happens. I have some pretty severe things that we are thinking about. That doesn't mean we are going to do it. I don't draw red lines. [...] It's a shame they're behaving this way -- they're behaving in a very, very dangerous manner and something will have to be done about it."

President Trump's Call with Japanese Prime Minister Abe

"President Donald J. Trump spoke this evening with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The two leaders exchanged views on the growing threat from North Korea, including their unity with respect to increasing pressure on the regime to change its dangerous path. They reaffirmed that the United States-Japan Alliance stands ready to defend and respond to any threat or action taken by North Korea. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe also discussed a range of other regional and global issues of mutual interest, and noted…

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at a Joint Press Availability

"SECRETARY TILLERSON: Hello. Good afternoon, all. I do want to thank Secretary Mattis, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, and PLA Chief of Joint Staff Fang Fenghui for a day of very productive meetings.

Secretary Mattis and I were quite pleased to host the first session of the Diplomatic Security Dialogue since we agreed on this format at the presidential summit in Mar-a-Lago. This is one of four distinct dialogue areas that will implement our President’s vision for constructive, results-oriented bilateral relations. We’re sustaining these regular talks…

Joint Statement AUSMIN [Australia-United States Ministerial] 2017

"On 5 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, and Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne, hosted U.S. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, and Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Sydney for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations.

AUSMIN 2017, the 27th AUSMIN meeting and the first under the Trump Administration, builds on the meeting between our leaders on May 4 in New York that demonstrated the continued closeness of the Australia-U.S. relationship. The strength and vitality of our Alliance is based on…

Press Availability With Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne

"SECRETARY TILLERSON: Thank you, Julie, and good afternoon, everyone. And let me begin, of course, by thanking Foreign Minister Bishop and Defense Minister Payne for their hospitality and for hosting this session of AUSMIN. Minister Bishop was one of my first counterparts that I met with when she traveled to Washington, and that began a very, very productive dialogue that has continued certainly through today. Secretary Mattis and I obviously look forward to having dinner this evening with Prime Minister Turnbull, and we know we’re…

Secretary Mattis Remarks at Shangri-La Dialogue - North Korea

"As Vice President Pence stated, the most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific is North Korea. North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them is not new. But the regime has increased the pace and the scope of its efforts. While the North Korean regime has a long record of murder of diplomats, of kidnapping innocents, of killing of sailors, other criminal activity, its nuclear weapons program is maturing is a threat to all. Coupled…