(Reuters) — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomed leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Washington on Thursday (May 4).
The talks come amid signs members of ASEAN are tilting diplomatically toward China as the Trump administration’s policy on the region remains unclear.
President Trump’s flurry of calls last weekend to the leaders of the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore might cheer those who fear his predecessor Barack Obama’s “pivot” to Asia has been abandoned in favor of an “America First” agenda.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the conversations were aimed at lining up Asian partners in case tensions over North Korea lead to “nuclear and massive destruction in Asia,” and mentioned no broader strategic goal.
