ASEAN — Senator Tammy Duckworth questioned President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary regarding his qualifications for leading international negotiations. She specifically asked Pete Hegseth to identify a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, explain the nature of the agreements the United States has with these countries, and state the total number of nations within the bloc.
During the intense Senate confirmation hearing, Hegseth admitted he could not specify the exact number of ASEAN member states but mentioned, “I know we have allies in South Korea and Japan in AUKUS (a trilateral security pact involving Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) with Australia.”
Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, promptly pointed out, “None of those three countries are in ASEAN. I suggest you do a little homework.”
What is ASEAN and why is it significant to the United States?
Association of Southeast Asian Nations comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with East Timor expected to join soon.
Founded in 1967, ‘It aims to foster regional economic and security collaboration, representing a combined population exceeding 650 million and a GDP surpassing $3 trillion.
Duckworth’s inquiry followed Hegseth’s remarks on the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region, where China’s influence has been expanding rapidly, and Beijing has become more assertive in its territorial claims.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations members such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei are currently engaged in maritime disputes with China regarding its claims of sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital shipping route. Indonesia has also raised concerns about what it perceives as Beijing’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.
What is the relationship between ASEAN and the U.S. Secretary of Defense?
The United States maintains treaty partnerships with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states Thailand and the Philippines, and it has aimed to leverage ASEAN’s regional influence to counteract Chinese dominance while advocating for what the White House describes as “a free and open region that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.”
President Joe Biden has stated that ASEAN is “at the heart of my administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy” and convened a meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Washington in 2022.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations conducts annual high-level meetings, with this year’s gathering taking place in Malaysia, which currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the organization.
Typically, the U.S. Secretary of Defense attends the defense meetings, while the Secretary of State participates in the foreign minister meetings. These discussions culminate in an annual summit, which is regularly attended by the sitting U.S. president, with both Biden and Donald Trump having taken part.
What other significance does ASEAN hold?
Despite some member states experiencing territorial disputes with China, many within the bloc maintain strong ties with Beijing, and high-ranking Chinese officials also participate in ASEAN meetings.
In 2022, the U.S. was elevated to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with ASEAN, a largely symbolic designation that aligns Washington with China, which received this recognition the previous year.
ASEAN prioritizes noninterference and personal diplomacy, and its diverse membership and partnerships uniquely position it as a platform for addressing significant geopolitical challenges.
ASEAN maintains formal relationships with several countries beyond China and the United States, including Russia, India, Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and numerous others.
The organization conducts annual meetings known as “ASEAN Plus Three,” which involve the leaders of China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as “ASEAN Plus Six” discussions that incorporate the leaders of Australia, India, and New Zealand. Additionally, the East Asia Summit features these six nations along with Russia and the United States.
The ASEAN member states play a pivotal role in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement established in 2020 that has resulted in the formation of the largest trade bloc in history.
Together, the ten ASEAN nations, along with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, represent over 30% of the global population and approximately 30% of the world’s GDP. This agreement, which was initiated at the ASEAN summit in 2011, encompasses commitments related to trade in goods and services, investments, and various other sectors.
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