Rubio warns ASEAN that Iran's Strait of Hormuz demands threaten global maritime order

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Asian leaders on Wednesday that Iran's attempt to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and impose tolls on shipping could undermine the global economy and the principle of freedom of navigation.

Speaking at the opening of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, Rubio addressed growing regional concern over the renewed conflict in West Asia, which has had economic repercussions for Southeast Asia. Despite U.S. focus on the war, Rubio affirmed Washington's commitment to ASEAN, stating, "we're with ASEAN 100%."

"If we create a precedent in the Middle East (West Asia) where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll and if you don't pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including in this region," Rubio said.

The Manila meeting brings together top diplomats from the United States, China, Russia, and other countries. Britain's new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also arrived on Wednesday for the talks.

Rubio met with foreign ministers of the Quad partnership — comprising the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan — to discuss shared priorities including technology, humanitarian assistance, emergency response, and maritime and transnational security. The Quad issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to maritime security initiatives aimed at countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

"We are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region," the Quad leaders said.

On social media platform X, Rubio added, "The Quad remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year." The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized China's actions in the South China Sea, which affect smaller claimant countries like the Philippines, a long-standing U.S. treaty ally. Territorial disputes involving Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei are high on the agenda of the three-day talks that began Tuesday.

Rubio also held a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. According to a U.S. State Department spokesperson, they discussed regional issues, the Iran conflict, and a pending interim trade deal aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Indian goods imposed by President Donald Trump. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, "The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar agreed on the importance of finalising the interim trade deal, which is almost complete."

Rubio was scheduled to meet separately with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the conference, held at a tightly secured convention complex near Manila Bay.