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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Trilateral Strategic Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement, August 1, 2019 - United States, Australia, and Japan

"The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, and Japan.

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  • The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, HE Taro Kono, the Secretary of State for the United States of America, HE Michael R. Pompeo, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women of Australia, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, met in Thailand on August 1, 2019, for the ninth ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD).
  • The Ministers reaffirmed the importance…
  • Secretary Pompeo On The U.S. In Asia: Economic Engagement for Good

    "SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone. Peter, thank you for the kind introduction. I also want to thank the Siam Society and your president for hosting me. I know too we have many prominent businesspeople here in the room with us today.

    I want to recognize Greg Bastion, the president of AmCham Thailand. He’s a West Point grad, so that’s always good.

    I especially want to thank the incoming Thai ambassador to the United States as well for joining us here today. Thank you for being…

    Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar

    "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met in Bangkok, Thailand with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on August 2. The two discussed our shared commitment to upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region. The Secretary reaffirmed the positive trajectory of the U.S.-India strategic partnership."

    Secretary of Defense Esper Media Engagement En Route to Sydney, Australia

    "SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DR. MARK T. ESPER: Yes. So, let me begin by thanking you all for joining me on this trip. My first trip. And as such, I wanted to make sure that I went to what is our priority theater based on the National Defense Strategy, which says that we are now in an era of great power competition. And our strategic competitors are China and Russia, principally in that order.

    So, for those reasons, I want to go out to the…

    President Trump in Cincinnati, Ohio - TPP

    Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi

    "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok, Thailand on August 1 to address issues of bilateral and regional importance. Secretary Pompeo and State Councilor Wang reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and the need for North Korea to return to negotiations. The Secretary also expressed concern over China’s treatment of religious minorities."

    Secretary Pompeo's Opening Remarks at the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial

    "SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, Foreign Minister. I want to thank you, Thailand, for hosting this special ministerial marking a decade of the Lower Mekong Initiative. The United States has been a proud partner for those whole 10 years, and thanks to our work: 340,000 people have access to improved drinking water; 3,800 officials, teachers, and students have been trained in technical English; 27,000 people have access to improved sanitation; and 70 technical teams have supported 45 projects to improve infrastructure sustainability.

    These are real achievements…