Rubio reaffirms US commitment to ASEAN, pledges long-term partnership

Stressing that the US stands with ASEAN, Rubio added that Washington is working with the bloc to strengthen economies and communities through long-term cooperation.

He said the goal is to ensure that the US remains “a reliable and durable partner” for ASEAN “for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Quad meeting

Separately, Rubio said he gathered with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting.

“Was pleased to reconvene the Quad at the @ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to emphasise our message: strong cooperation is vital to supporting ASEAN’s own priority and centrality in the region,” Rubio said on X.

The Quad, which brings together the US, India, Australia and Japan, has increasingly focused on promoting security, economic cooperation and a rules-based order across the Indo-Pacific.

Rubio said the four countries remain united in their vision for the region.

“The United States, India, Australia, and Japan share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Quad remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year,” he added.