The U.S. Secretary of State wants to bolster defense ties in the Indo-Pacific, while distrust of Trump’s commitments to the region, particularly on economic issues, runs deep.

During a press gaggle on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked a question about Taiwan.

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head to Malaysia Tuesday, just after threats of higher tariffs made by President Donald Trump on nations aligned with BRICS.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, the State Department said on Monday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that U.S. President Donald Trump may attend the 47th Asean Summit in October, as his administration works on finalising a date for his potential participation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen speaking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ahead of the East Asia Summit as part of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. IM

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Malaysia later this week to attend a meeting of Southeast Asian Nations in his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region as America's top diplomat, the State Department said in a statement.

Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S.