Trump to skip key East Asia summit during his 5-nation trip to continent

New York : President Donald Trump will skip a key Asia summit at the end of his trip to the region in November.

The White House said Tuesday that Trump will be returning to the United States on Nov 14, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines. Trump is slated to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which is also in the Philippines, the day before but he will not stay the extra day.

Another



US delegation that will attend the EAS, which will include more than a dozen Asian nations as well as Australia, New Zealand and Russia. The White House did not give a reason as to Trump's absence.

Philippines will be the final stop of Trump's 12-day, five-nation trip his first to Asia. The trip is expected to be dominated by Trump demanding that American allies in the

region increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.