U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the Philippines next week to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The trip comes amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, which is intensifying economic pressure on traditional U.S. allies in Asia, alongside rising tensions in relations with China.
The meeting of the foreign policy heads of ASEAN will take place in Manila from Tuesday to Thursday. According to State Department spokesman Tommy Piggot, the visit underscores the U.S. commitment to supporting a “free and open Indo-Pacific region that ensures security, protection, and prosperity for the region and the American people”.
Iran, China, and energy security
This trip is part of Washington’s strategy to counter China’s growing influence. However, the State Department has not revealed specific details about Rubio’s schedule. Last year, during the ASEAN meeting, he held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and recently, diplomats also communicated by phone following Donald Trump’s spring visit to China.
One of the key topics of discussion will likely be the situation surrounding Iran, as Asian nations, particularly oil importers, are experiencing the repercussions of the conflict and disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, approximately 80% of the hydrocarbons transported through this route are supplied to Asian countries.
During the May summit in Bangkok, leaders of 11 Southeast Asian nations also discussed establishing a joint fuel reserve, as reported by President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, whose country is chairing ASEAN this year.
Philippines, South China Sea, and Myanmar
Rubio is expected to hold a separate meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos to strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines. The situation in the South China Sea will likely be a focal point of the discussions, where territorial disputes persist among several countries in the region and China. Beijing claims nearly the entire area, despite an international arbitration ruling that deemed these claims without legal basis.
Attention will also be directed towards the situation in Myanmar. The foreign ministers of ASEAN recently urged the country’s representative to achieve “concrete” progress in implementing a peace plan to end the civil war. Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has largely been sidelined from ASEAN activities.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
