SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone.
It’s been an honor to participate in my first ASEAN ministerial meetings here in Singapore.
I want to first thank Foreign Minister Balakrishnan for hosting.
We have reaffirmed our strong bilateral relationship, and it’s great to be back in Singapore again
after having been here in June.
We remain grateful for Singapore’s support of President Trump’s successful summit back
in June, and we appreciate Singapore’s dedicated efforts to promote a resilient and innovative
ASEAN during this past year.
I also appreciate the opportunity to have met with Prime Minister Lee to discuss the
critically important and strategic U.S.-Singapore partnership.
And I’d like here, too, to pause just for a moment to offer my condolences on behalf
of the United States to the people of Laos regarding the recent unfortunate tragedy and
loss of life from the dam breach.
We have disaster relief experts on the ground and are supporting Lao authorities and international
humanitarian organizations with needed assistance.
Our condolences also go to the victims of recent flooding and landslides in Myanmar
and the earthquake in Indonesia.
Throughout my ASEAN-centered engagements these past days I’ve conveyed President Trump’s
commitment to this vital part of the world that continues to grow in importance.
Security has been a major focus of our conversations.
As part of our commitment to advancing regional security in the Indo-Pacific, the United States
is excited to announce nearly $300 million in new funding to reinforce security cooperation
throughout the entire region.
This new security assistance will advance our shared priorities, especially to strengthen
maritime security, develop humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping capabilities, and enhance
programs that counter transnational threats.
I’ve also emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomatic and economic pressure on North
Korea to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK, as agreed to
by Chairman Kim.
It’s worth remembering this isn’t just an American security goal; it is clear our
partners and allies within ASEAN know how important the denuclearization of North Korea
is for their own security.
I called on them to strictly enforce all sanctions, including the complete shutdown of illegal
ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum destined for North Korea.
We have seen reports that Russia is allowing for joint ventures with North Korean firms
and granting new work permits to North Korean guest workers.
If these reports prove accurate – and we have every reason to believe that they are
– that would be in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2375.
I want to remind every nation that has supported these resolutions that this is a serious issue
and something that we will discuss with Moscow.
We expect the Russians and all countries to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions
and enforce sanctions on North Korea.
Any violation that detracts from the world’s goal of finally fully denuclearizing North
Korea would be something that America would take very seriously.
In addition, while here at ASEAN I raised concerns about Chinese militarization of the
South China Sea and the importance of maintaining a rules-based order in the region.
And we discussed advancing cooperation on counterterrorism, including addressing the
threat of foreign terrorist fighters returning to the region, and cyber security.
While reaffirming our support for Myanmar’s ongoing democratic transition, we also addressed
the important steps required to resolve the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine
State.
Progress on these and other critical security issues is essential to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
ASEAN will remain at the center of this effort.
A free Indo-Pacific is one in which every citizen can exercise his or her fundamental
rights without any constraint.
Regarding the issue of good governance, we regret the elections in Cambodia were neither
free nor fair.
The Cambodian people deserve better.
Economically, President Trump recognizes the long-term strategic importance of one of the
world’s most competitive regions.
The Indo-Pacific has been and will be a major engine of economic growth, and President Trump
wants to make sure America and all countries can responsibly reap the benefits of all current
and future opportunities.
The United States is committed to doing just that according to our values, the rule of
law, transparency, and good governance.
As I said earlier this week, the United States practices partnership economics; we seek partnership,
not dominance.
Earlier this week at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum hosted by the United States Chamber
of Commerce, I outlined the Trump administration’s economic strategy for advancing a free and
open Indo-Pacific, and I talked about why U.S. businesses’ engagement in the region
is crucial to our mission of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity.
There is no better force for prosperity in the world than American businesses.
When nations partner with American firms, they can have confidence they are working
with the most scrupulous, well-run, and transparent companies in the world.
As a down payment on a new era in American economic commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,
I announced at the forum $113 million in new U.S. Government resources to support foundational
areas of the future: the digital economy, energy, and infrastructure.
In addition, the Trump administration is working with Congress to encourage the passage of
the BUILD Act.
It recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now before the United States Senate.
Under this bill, the government’s development finance capacity would more than double to
$60 billion to support U.S. private investment in strategic opportunities abroad.
These initiatives are strategic investments designed to spur our partners’ engagement
with American companies, the greatest force for prosperity in the world.
As part of the $113 million I announced this week, 10 million in funding to support economic
programming, much of which will fall under the U.S.-ASEAN Connect program.
The United States will continue to work with our partners to foster regional security,
fair and reciprocal economic partnerships, and good governance so that independent nations
of the Indo-Pacific region can prosper side-by-side in freedom and peace.
Last year we celebrated 50 years of ASEAN’s success.
This year we look forward to ASEAN’s continued centrality in the Indo-Pacific region as we
celebrate a fruitful U.S.-ASEAN strategic partnership.