Pakistan, July 7 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to make his first official visit to Asia this week, where he will attend a high-level ASEAN meeting in Malaysia from July 8 to 12, the State Department announced Monday. The visit underscores Washington's efforts to strengthen strategic and trade ties with Southeast Asia as part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy.

Rubio will engage with foreign ministers from ASEAN's 10 member states and meet with top Malaysian officials in Kuala Lumpur. His trip is part of the Trump administration's campaign to reassure regional allies shaken by protectionist US policies and rising tariff tensions.

A senior State Department official said Rubio will aim to reaffirm US commitment to ASEAN and...