TOKYO โข – President Donald Trump concluded a swing through Asia this โฃweek with a โคseries of gestures aimed at reassuring allies unsettled by his past โcriticisms of defence spending and โขtrade practices. The trip signaled a renewed commitment to regional partnerships, despite earlier tensions.
Throughout his โadministration, Trump has frequently questioned the fairness of existing security arrangements and trade balances with Asian nations. However, during visits to South Korea, โJapan, and meetings withโ Southeast Asian leaders, the presidentโค moved toโ solidify alliances โand counter growing chinese influence.He affirmed the U.S. was โฃ”wedded” to South Korea, addressing concerns regarding โa $350 billion investment pledgeโฃ and approving SeoulSโฃ request for nuclear-powered submarines. in โขaโ meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump offeredโ unwavering support, stating she could ask himโ for help with “anything.” He also โmaintained U.S.โฃ commitment to Taiwanโข during aโค summit with Chinese leaderโฃ Xi Jinping, while โDefense Chief Pete Hegseth expressed concern over Beijing’s military activity near the island.
The president also worked โคto repair relationships with Southeast โAsian countries that had begun to gravitate โtoward China, signing trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia,โข and establishing frameworks โฃfor future โขdeals with โขThailand โand Vietnam. Separately, Hegseth finalized aโ 10-year defense pact with India and announced the resumption of military exercises with Cambodia – paused for eight years – signaling a broader effort to strengthen โsecurity ties across the region.
