U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Asian leaders on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that Iran’s efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and impose fees for the passage of ships could create a dangerous precedent for the global economy and threaten freedom of navigation.
Rubio spoke at the start of the annual meeting in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who voiced concerns about the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has adversely impacted the region. Despite Washington’s focus on the conflict, Rubio reassured attendees: “We are 100% with ASEAN”. He stressed that if any state could control an international shipping route, impose fees for passage, and attack vessels that refuse to comply, it would set a perilous precedent that could be replicated in other parts of the world.
Diplomatic Meetings and Regional Security
This week, high-ranking diplomats from the United States, China, Russia, and several other nations arrived in Manila to participate in meetings of foreign ministers from Southeast Asian countries. Newly appointed British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also arrived on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, according to his office.
Rubio also met with the foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Partnership Quad, which includes the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. They discussed cooperation in technology, humanitarian aid, emergency response, and maritime and transnational security. Following their meeting, a joint statement was issued reaffirming the participants’ commitment to maritime security initiatives aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the region. “We are united in our belief that peace and stability in the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific region are the foundation of the region’s security and prosperity,” the joint statement of the ministers read. Rubio also posted on the social media platform X that “Quad remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year.”
The administration of Donald Trump has consistently criticized China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, which exert pressure on smaller claimant nations, including the Philippines, the oldest U.S. ally in Asia. Territorial disputes involving Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei remain key topics during the three-day negotiations that began on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Manila.
Talks with India and China
Later, Rubio met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two discussed the regional situation and the conflict surrounding Iran, a U.S. State Department representative reported. They focused particularly on a trade agreement aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. “The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar agreed on the importance of completing the interim trade agreement, which is nearly finalized,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
Separately, Rubio was scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the international meeting at the conference complex along Manila Bay.
