After months of tariff threats and criticism over defense spending, President Donald Trump embarked on a three-nation tour of Asia, sending a clear message that the United States remains committed to its regional allies, Bloomberg reports. During the trip, Trump reassured South Korea of America’s support, addressed concerns over a $350 billion investment pledge, and approved Seoul’s request for nuclear-powered submarines. In Japan, he offered the new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi support “for anything,” while simultaneously maintaining US backing for Taiwan in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump also sought to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations that have increasingly leaned toward Beijing. He signed trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia and laid the groundwork for future deals with Thailand and Vietnam. Separately, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a 10-year defense agreement with India and announced the resumption of military exercises with Cambodia after an eight-year hiatus. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Bloomberg that the talks exceeded expectations, highlighting trust, friendship, and commitment to deeper relations.

Despite these gestures, Bloomberg notes that Asia-Pacific nations must navigate a Trump-era reality characterized by higher costs for American market access and an unpredictable approach to international diplomacy. Meanwhile, China marked milestones of its own, with President Xi visiting South Korea for the first time in 11 years, holding meetings with Japan’s new leader, and expanding trade ties with Southeast Asian nations. Analysts caution that China’s comprehensive engagement in the region often outpaces the US’s efforts.

Trump’s visit was marked by pageantry and symbolic gestures, including dancing with performers in Malaysia, touring a US aircraft carrier in Japan with Takaichi, and presiding over a peace ceremony between Thailand and Cambodia. Yet, he departed key summits early, leaving some sessions to other US officials, highlighting the limits of his “full-spectrum engagement.”

A highlight of the tour was a trade deal with South Korea that addressed Seoul’s concerns about foreign exchange volatility and investment caps, along with approval for a nuclear-powered submarine program. Trump was also presented with gifts and honors, including a golden crown from South Korea and a golf putter used by the late Shinzo Abe in Japan, reflecting the ceremonial and diplomatic dimension of the visit.

While Trump emphasized strengthened relations and trade deals in public statements and on social media, not all interactions went smoothly. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the ASEAN summit to avoid meeting Trump, prompting the president to make a controversial remark about Modi that could complicate US-India relations, Bloomberg reports.

Experts warn that Trump’s Asia policy remains unconventional. Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund, told Bloomberg, “US foreign policy under Trump has not been orthodox. And I don’t see Trump’s recent Asia tour as suggesting a shift to a more traditional approach.”

Trump’s tour underscores a dual approach: signaling continued US support for allies and trade partners while maintaining a flexible, often unpredictable stance toward China and regional dynamics — a strategy that leaves both reassurance and uncertainty in its wake.