Washington, D.C. – Florida's Jr. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is just ahead of a week-long trip to Asia. The tour includes stops in Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea.
Rubio, is the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. He plans on meeting with U.S. officials and foreign leaders in the region to discuss critical economic and security issues.
In an interview, Rubio said that during his trip he would emphasize the U.S.’s commitment to the region and interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
“Asia is vitally important to the future of America’s security and economic well-being. America must make sure that our rhetoric about increasing our presence in Asia does not come at the expense of enduring alliances and challenges in other parts of the world. The fact is that the United States has long been a Pacific power and it is vital that we maintain our robust military and diplomatic presence in the region while adapting to new realities.”, he said.
This is Rubio’s first visit to Asia. Rubio’s trip will begin with a visit to Japan on Monday and Tuesday next week. While in Japan, Rubio is scheduled to meet with senior Japanese government and military officials, including Prime Minister Abe, the new U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and U.S. military service members serving in Japan.
