What ASEAN really wants from Trump at the Manila summit

Résumé détaillé

When President Trump arrives in Manila this week for the ASEAN Summit, his presence will carry significance beyond the usual diplomatic formalities. As Southeast Asia increasingly…

When President Trump arrives in Manila this week for the ASEAN Summit, his presence will carry significance beyond the usual diplomatic formalities.

As Southeast Asia increasingly becomes a focal point of strategic competition between Washington and Beijing, the US president’s attendance offers an opportunity to reaffirm America’s regional commitments.

For ASEAN, however, the more important question is not simply whether Washington intends to remain engaged, but what kind of engagement it is offering and at what cost to the region’s security, economic independence and democratic institutions.

Trump’s visit comes at a particularly consequential moment. The recent US midterm elections, which saw Democrats regain control of Congress, have raised fresh questions about the direction of American policy, particularly on trade and tariffs.

Meanwhile, China continues to deepen its economic and political relationships across Southeast Asia, including through closer defense cooperation with Laos and Cambodia, while positioning itself as a leading voice in global artificial intelligence governance.

At the same time, ASEAN members face a range of challenges, from renewed tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and the continuing crisis in Myanmar to the proliferation of cyberscam networks sweeping through the region and persistent disputes in the South China Sea. Any engagement with the US will likely be judged by its impact on these issues.

Security cooperation is likely to feature prominently in Manila. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent participation in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, where he proposed a new US-ASEAN Framework for Defense Cooperation, suggests Washington is looking to institutionalize its regional security presence through stronger maritime domain awareness and naval coordination.

There is clear rationale for deeper cooperation. The South China Sea is vital to international trade, energy security, and the livelihoods of millions across…

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