Navigating US-Southeast Asia Relations under the Trump Administration
U.S. relations with Southeast Asia are entering a new phase under the Trump administration, shaped by a shifting mix of strategic competition, trade realignments, and evolving security commitments. From renewed defense dialogues to trade tensions and questions over long-term U.S. engagement, the region finds itself recalibrating its expectations while managing the pressures of great power rivalry.
Our fellow unpacks the opportunities and challenges emerging from this transition, exploring how countries in the region are balancing closer economic ties with China against the need for continued U.S. presence and support. For policymakers, analysts, and students of U.S. foreign policy, it offers a nuanced snapshot of the forces shaping Southeast Asia’s strategic landscape and the implications for future cooperation.
James Borton, Senior Fellow at FPI, wrote in Geopolitical Monitor on February 6, 2025, about evolving U.S.-Southeast Asia relations.