U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Asian partners Thursday that Washington remains firmly engaged in the region, despite rising trade tensions and fears of economic decoupling. Speaking at a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Rubio stated that the Asia-Pacific “remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy” and emphasized that the U.S. has “no intention of abandoning” its alliances in the area.

The comments come amid reports that the Trump administration is preparing new tariffs that could hit several ASEAN economies, adding strain to economic relations even as Washington intensifies security and diplomatic engagement across the Indo-Pacific.

Rubio’s remarks are part of a broader diplomatic effort to balance trade pressure with strategic reassurance as the U.S. seeks to counter China’s growing regional influence while maintaining cooperation with key Southeast Asian partners.