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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Joint Statement: Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2019
"Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on 4 August in Sydney for the 29th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) to deepen economic, security, and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.
As Prime Minister Morrison and President Trump reaffirmed at the G20 in Osaka on June 27, Australia and the United States are the closest of allies. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day…
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Secretary Esper Meeting With Australian Minister of Defense Reynolds
"Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper met today with Australia’s Minister for Defense Linda Reynolds at Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Australia.
The two leaders affirmed the strong defense relationship between Australia and the United States and committed to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and around the globe. The secretary expressed appreciation for Australia's continued participation in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, as well as to coalition operations in Iraq and Syria. He promised close consultation on the way ahead in the Middle East…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo “The Unbreakable Alliance” - Australia
"SECRETARY POMPEO: [...] I wanted to get here. It was important for me to get down here. American diplomacy depends on showing up, especially talk with your closest friends, not give lectures. This is a new era. America doesn’t do that. The Trump administration knows you’re a partner, we are not your professor.
I want to tell you about a story, about a man who epitomized what our friendship is all about here. Your prime minister told it to President Trump last year, but it’s…
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Esper Emphasizes Importance of Indo-Pacific to United States
"I want to go out to the theater, visit with some of our longest standing allies, and new partners, and to affirm our commitment to the region to reassure our allies and our partners, and to make sure they understand that it's not just the department's commitment, but my personal commitment and the United States' commitment to this region[.]" [...]"We want to develop this capability and making sure we can have long-range precision fires, not just for that theater, but for the theater that we're…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met yesterday with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum. They reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-ROK-Japan relationship, their shared commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK, and to continue working closely to address common challenges in the Indo-Pacific."
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - Tariffs Against China
"Q What does China need to do to avoid those tariffs going into force on September 1st?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think China — number one, you have to understand, we are so far behind. We have been treated so badly. And I don’t blame China; I blame our past leaders, our past Presidents, our past trade representatives. They’ve done a terrible job.
China — we can’t just go and make an even deal with China. We have to make a much better deal with…