Marco Rubio is making his first trip to Asia as the top US diplomat, heading to a summit in Malaysia a day after President Donald Trump again threatened to slam the region with high tariffs.

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head to Malaysia Tuesday, just after threats of higher tariffs made by President Donald Trump on nations aligned with BRICS.

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first trip to Asia since taking up his post, traveling this week to Malaysia for meetings with Asean allies, his office said Monday (July 7).