US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to pay significantly greater attention to South Asia, describing the region as a critical geopolitical priority that has historically been overlooked, according to a senior US State Department official. The remarks, made on 25 September in New York, signal a formal elevation of South Asia in Washington's foreign policy agenda.

What the Administration Said

Bethany Morrison, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told reporters that the Trump administration sees South Asia as a part of the world that 'really has not gotten enough attention.' She attributed the shift directly to presidential direction, saying Trump 'has really made sure that he has advised us to do more' in the region.

Morrison described South Asia as having historically been 'a region that gets overlooked until there's a crisis,' pointing to competing demands from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and 'land wars in Europe' as factors that have traditionally diverted US focus.

Key Pillars: Energy, Defence and Multilateral Diplomacy

The administration's renewed engagement with the region spans multiple domains. Morrison cited 'energy, big commercial deals, defence engagements and agreements, and large multilateral diplomatic meetings like the Quad' — the grouping comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — as evidence of the seriousness of US intent.

On energy, she highlighted a notable milestone: the United States is now the largest exporter of LPG to India, as New Delhi works to diversify its energy sources. 'When we talk about diversifying energy sources, we are happy that the United States is now becoming that provider,' Morrison said.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation Gains Momentum

Morrison also flagged what she described as 'exciting new developments' in the civil nuclear space. She noted that India had, for the first time in 20 years, reformed its nuclear regulatory environment through the passage of the SHANTI Act. 'Now we're moving forward on some really exciting new developments in civil nuclear cooperation,' she said.

Special Envoy and Diplomatic Outreach

Trump has assigned US Ambassador to India Sergei Gor the additional role of Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. Morrison described Gor as 'incredibly active,' noting he had visited 'almost every single country in South Asia' and engaged with government leaders 'at the highest level on behalf of the president.'

With the SHANTI Act now passed and a dedicated special envoy in place, the coming months are likely to test whether Washington's stated priority translates into durable institutional and commercial outcomes across the region.