US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit the Philippines next week to engage with his Southeast Asian counterparts at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The gathering will take place in Manila from Tuesday through Thursday, where Rubio is expected to address a range of regional security and economic issues amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and increasing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Rubio’s trip comes as the conflict involving Iran shows no signs of abating, placing economic pressure on traditional US allies, particularly those in Asia heavily dependent on energy imports. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly 80% of the hydrocarbons destined for Asian countries transit, has become a focal point of concern. The economic fallout has prompted some Asean leaders to consider initiatives such as creating a shared fuel reserve, a proposal discussed at a recent summit in Cebu, according to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, whose country currently holds the Asean chairmanship.
During his visit, Rubio is expected to meet with Marcos as part of efforts to strengthen the longstanding US partnership with the Philippines. The contentious South China Sea dispute is likely to be a prominent topic. Multiple Southeast Asian countries claim parts of the waters, which China asserts nearly in full despite a ruling by an international tribunal rejecting its claims as lacking legal merit. The area regularly witnesses incidents between Chinese and regional vessels, heightening regional tensions.
Iran’s conflict and its broader impacts on energy security and maritime trade routes are anticipated to be among the issues Rubio will raise during the Asean ministerial meetings. The United States aims to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, focusing on regional safety, security, and prosperity, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. Countering China’s expanding influence in the region remains a core element of US policy, with previous engagement including meetings between Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The situation in Myanmar is also expected to feature on the agenda. Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has been largely isolated within Asean. On Sunday, Asean foreign ministers called on Myanmar’s military-led government to demonstrate “concrete” progress toward a peace plan intended to resolve the country’s ongoing civil conflict. China continues to support Myanmar’s ruling junta, standing out as one of the few countries backing the military government following the overthrow of the civilian administration led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Rubio’s visit reflects Washington’s continuing focus on reinforcing alliances in Southeast Asia amid escalating regional challenges, including economic uncertainties linked to Middle East tensions and strategic rivalry with China. No detailed itinerary for the trip has been released by the State Department.