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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Secretary Pompeo With Hugh Hewitt of The Hugh Hewitt Show - Indo-Pacific

"QUESTION: Now, Mr. Secretary, I want to turn to the Chinese Communist Party and to the conservative realism about it that you and President Trump have articulated and defended. Do we expect, short term, more sanctions in December and January on entities like Huawei?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So I don’t want to get out in front of what decisions the President will make, but make no mistake about the work that we’re doing to counter the threat from the Chinese Communist Party continues. So there’s still…

U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State, Indian Ministers of Defense and External Affairs Provide Remarks at the Beginning of the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

"SECRETARY MIKE POMPEO: Thank you very much. It’s an honor to be here with you (inaudible) for the third 2+2 (inaudible) all three. Our friendship and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific was clearly, clearly highly on display when we were in Tokyo this past week and a half for the Quad meeting that Minister Jaishankar and I had with our Australian and Japanese friends earlier this month.

Today is real opportunity for two great democracies like ours to grow closer, as I said…

Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, jointly with Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper, met today with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India. Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the warm and close relationship between our countries, which is rooted in our vibrant democratic traditions and fostered by strong ties between our citizens. Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Modi discussed several issues of regional and global concern on which the United States and India collaborate, including COVID-19 response, security and defense…

Joint Statement on the Third U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

"India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper to New Delhi for the third annual U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The Ministers welcomed the elevation of the U.S.-India relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during the visit of President Donald J. Trump to India in February 2020. They reiterated their commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-India partnership, anchored in mutual trust and friendship…

Secretary Pompeo With Shekhar Gupta of The Print

"QUESTION: We’ve kept you busy, Secretary, in Delhi – what, 18 hours – on 19 hours, and I know that you’ve heard the word “China” more times than you can count. Now, we know that China is knocking at our doorsteps and that’s a clear and present issue. But what is there to this relationship that goes beyond the China problem?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. So, many things. This was a good relationship long before the Chinese Communist Party started causing as much trouble as they’re…

Secretary Pompeo With Rahul Shivshankar of Times Now

"QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo, welcome to Times Now. Welcome to India. You have just had a very intensive 36 hours roughly. You signed certain foundation agreements that takes the relationship to a completely different level. We’ve even mentioned the destabilizing actions of China. Has the United States therefore decided to offer India more than just diplomatic assistance in the event of a conflict, let’s assume, with China or Pakistan?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, thanks for having me with you today. We did sign a series of important…

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh Joint Press Availability at the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

"SECRETARY ESPER: Minister Singh, Minister Jaishankar, Secretary Pompeo, it is great to be here in New Delhi and for the four of us to meet and to discuss the important issues of the day and indeed the important issues of the future.

As the world confronts a global pandemic and growing security challenges, the United States-India partnership is more important than ever to ensure security, stability, and prosperity of the region and the world.

Fifteen years after the conclusion of the first U.S.-India Defense Framework…

Readout of Secretary Esper's Bilateral Engagement With India Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh

"Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper met today with Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh ahead of the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi, India. Secretary Esper and Minister Singh applauded the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India, and reinforced their commitment to deepening military-to-military cooperation, including joint-service cooperation; increasing secure communications capabilities; and enhancing mutual logistics engagements. Secretary Esper and Minister Singh commended the conclusion of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement during the visit, and welcomed the…

Secretary Pompeo at a Press Availability - Indo-Pacific

"Look, today I want to talk about a number of multilateral initiatives that we’re advancing here at the State Department. We’re cooperating with our partners and allies and friends across the world in unprecedented ways. It’s been a hallmark of the administration that frankly deserves more attention.

Look, it starts with working to go out and meet with these people. This Sunday I’ll depart for India, for Sri Lanka, for the Maldives, and then on to Indonesia. On every stop I will discuss a broad…

Secretary Pompeo With Larry O’Connor of the Larry O’Connor Show - China

"QUESTION: Boy, there’s a lot going on in the news, and I know that you have been a busy man. I guess Secretary of State means you’re going to be traveling the world. But you’ve been very busy in the last week specifically with a trip to Japan, and that, of course, continues your focus on the Chinese Communist Party. Talk to me about what happened in Japan and where we stand right now with the Communist Party of China.

SECRETARY POMPEO: So it was…

Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar on the margins of the United States-India-Australia-Japan Quadrilateral Consultations. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation on topics of international concern. They reaffirmed the strength of the United States-India relationship, reviewed our efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and asserted the need to work together to advance peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe. The Secretary and the Minister agreed…