Ongoing reports and analysis

The first year of U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia has been demonstrably mixed. On the one hand, Trump unexpectedly strengthened U.S. multilateral engagement by working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). His administration also deepened key bilateral relationships with the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia—and even sought improved ties with Cambodia, despite its record as a serial human rights abuser. On the other hand, these achievements have been significantly offset by the long shadow of Trump’s highly unpopular tariffs on the region’s exports to the United States.

More broadly, Trump’s transactionalism—though it can be a helpful asset in Southeast Asia at times—also jeopardizes Washington’s long-term influence in the region. With his trademark unpredictability and volatility, Trump has fueled confusion, frustration, and a growing distrust of U.S. intentions. These concerns were reinforced on Jan. 3, when Trump launched a military raid to forcibly oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—prompting Singapore, a close and reliable U.S. partner—to note that it was “gravely concerned” about the preservation of international law. Moreover, the release of Trump’s new U.S. National Security Strategy last month barely even mentions Southeast Asia. The document frames the region largely as a vehicle for advancing U.S. economic objectives rather than as a strategic partner in its own right.

The first year of U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia has been demonstrably mixed. On the one hand, Trump unexpectedly strengthened U.S. multilateral engagement by working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). His administration also deepened key bilateral relationships with the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia—and even sought improved ties with Cambodia, despite its record as a serial human rights abuser. On the other hand, these achievements have been significantly offset by the long shadow of Trump’s highly unpopular tariffs on the region’s exports to the United States.

More broadly, Trump’s transactionalism—though it can be a helpful asset in Southeast Asia at times—also jeopardizes Washington’s long-term influence in the region. With his trademark unpredictability and volatility, Trump has fueled confusion, frustration, and a growing distrust of U.S. intentions. These concerns were reinforced on Jan. 3, when Trump launched a military raid to forcibly oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—prompting Singapore, a close and reliable U.S. partner—to note that it was “gravely concerned” about the preservation of international law. Moreover, the release of Trump’s new U.S. National Security Strategy last month barely even mentions Southeast Asia. The document frames the region largely as a vehicle for advancing........

© Foreign Policy