U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Kuala Lumpur this week to attend the ASEAN foreign ministers' summit, in a visit designed to reassure Southeast Asian allies of America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific amid growing uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade policies.

Rubio’s July 8–12 visit is his first to the region since taking office in January. The trip underscores a pivot back to Asia following months of crisis management in the Middle East and Europe. It also comes as ASEAN members grow anxious over Trump’s escalating global tariff campaign, which has rattled markets and strained trade diplomacyRubio to make first vis….

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Rubio will meet ministers from the 10-member ASEAN bloc, hoping to strengthen political and economic ties. Last week, he hosted officials from India, Japan, and Australia and announced a new joint initiative to secure critical minerals—a sector key to both economic resilience and competition with China.

ASEAN countries have questioned whether Trump’s “America First” doctrine allows for sustained U.S. engagement in the region. “There is a hunger to be reassured that the U.S. actually views the Indo-Pacific as the primary theater of U.S. interests,” said Greg Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Trump recently announced a trade deal with Vietnam and hinted at progress with India, but Japan—a key regional ally—remains in limbo. Rubio has not yet visited either Japan or South Korea, further raising concerns over the administration’s long-term Indo-Pacific strategy.

Still, ASEAN leaders hope Rubio’s visit will stabilize relations and avoid the imposition of new tariffs as Trump’s 90-day pause on duties expires.