President Trump will head to Southeast Asia later on this year for a summit with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, according to Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence told reporters Thursday that Trump will head to Vietnam and the Philippines in November for the meetings. Pence, who has been in Asia this week to rally support for a more aggressive policy toward North Korea, said the visit is a sign of Trump’s desire to be closer to Asian allies.
“It’s a sign, I hope to all, of our firm and unwavering commitment to build on the strong foundations that we already share,” Pence said.
One of Trump’s first acts in office was to take the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement between the U.S. and a number of Asia-Pacific countries. Negotiated under President Obama, the deal was a punching bag for both Republicans and Democrats during the presidential campaign because of the harm it could potentially cause the American economy.
It’s unknown if Trump will meet with Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, the firebrand leader of the former American territory who has been known to use violent means to suppress opposition and was a fervent critic of Obama.
