US, Asean enjoying unprecedented relations

US, Asean enjoying unprecedented relations

US Ambassador Glyn T Davies visited the Bangkok Post last month, and now writes that US-Asean relations are on an unprecedented new level. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
US Ambassador Glyn T Davies visited the Bangkok Post last month, and now writes that US-Asean relations are on an unprecedented new level. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are taking their relationship to a new level. In November 2015, the leaders of the United States and Asean formally elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership. The Sunnylands Summit -- the first US-Asean summit in the United States and the first for the new Asean Economic Community (AEC) -- marks a new milestone in our cooperation. 

Engagement with Southeast Asia is a central pillar of the US Rebalance to Asia. Asean, including Thailand, a founding member, is vital to US interests, and is a key partner in addressing regional and global challenges. As expressed in the Sunnylands Summit Declaration, the United States and Asean share a strong interest in building and sustaining a rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific, in which countries can pursue their objectives peacefully and in accordance with international law and norms.

Recognising Asean's diplomatic, economic and strategic importance, the United States has invested heavily in its relationship with the bloc. In 2010, we became the first non-Asean country to establish a dedicated diplomatic mission and appoint a resident ambassador to the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta. The United States became a party in 2009 to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia -- the bedrock diplomatic document of Asean -- opening the door to join the East Asia Summit (EAS) in 2011. 

With strong US support, the EAS has become the Asia-Pacific's premier leaders-level forum on political and security issues, helping to advance a rules-based order and spur cooperation on pressing challenges, including maritime security, countering violent extremism, and transnational cyber cooperation.

The United States also launched the Lower Mekong Initiative in 2009, creating a partnership between the United States and the countries of the Mekong sub-region -- Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam -- to support sustainable and responsible development, and to narrow the development gap by building capacity in Asean's least developed members.  

The United States is strengthening people-to-people links across Asean. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) now engages more than 60,000 young leaders (aged 18-35) from across Asean and the United States, with over 8,000 dynamic Thai members, and will benefit US-Asean relations for generations to come. YSEALI provides training, fellowships, and funding opportunities, as well as a platform to address regional issues, including entrepreneurship, environmental protection and education.  

In 2012, the United States launched the Fulbright US-Asean Visiting Scholar Initiative, bringing academics from Asean countries to study in the United States, which adds to the more than 700 US Fulbright scholarships awarded to Asean members annually. In 2014, the United States and Asean launched the Science and Technology Fellows Programme, which connects young scientists in Asean with opportunities to solve real world challenges, like biodiversity, climate change and alternative fuels.

Our economic ties are strong, and growing stronger. Asean countries are collectively the United States' fourth-largest trading partner. Since 2009, trade in goods with Asean countries has expanded by 55%. US companies have been the leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asean. With a stock of over US$226 billion (8 trillion baht), US FDI in Asean has nearly doubled since 2008. The United States has invested more in Asean than have China, Japan and the Republic of Korea combined.

We have also significantly expanded our defence cooperation with Asean countries. The secretary of defence hosted his Asean counterparts in the United States for the first time for the US-Asean Defence Forum in Hawaii in 2014.

Asean members are important partners in global security efforts, including the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Malaysia, Singapore) and cooperation to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore).

We are partnering to address a growing number of shared global challenges. The United States and Asean cooperate closely to create low-carbon economic growth and build more climate-resilient societies. We work with Asean institutions to improve disaster response coordination in support of the "One Asean, One Response" initiative -- the benefits of which were on display in the 2015 joint US-Thai response to the Nepal earthquake.  

The United States is also partnering with Asean to advance the Global Health Security Agenda and welcomes the regional leadership role of Thailand. By accelerating capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to infectious disease threats, we are saving lives and advancing peace and security. Our investments in health and education are increasing prospects globally for expanded and more inclusive economic growth.

The United States strongly supports Asean's effort to realise a "rules-based" Community that serves the people of the region and ensures human rights and fundamental freedoms, including by helping member nations integrate international human rights standards into legislative and judicial processes.

The United States is firmly committed to working with Asean countries to promote transparency, good governance, the rule of law and accountable institutions. The Asean Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, endorsed in November 2015, is a landmark achievement and established a framework to effectively address human trafficking and ensure protection of people throughout the region. The United States is committed to working with Thailand to address this significant challenge. 

The US-Asean partnership has been important in addressing shared challenges on a diverse range of issues -- from combatting terrorism and pandemic disease, to upholding international law in the South China Sea and in cyberspace, to taking meaningful action on climate change, inclusive economic growth and trafficking-in-persons.

On all of these challenges, and many more, the United States is committed to Asean to better the lives of all our people and ensure peace, prosperity and security in the 21st century.


Glyn T Davies is US ambassador to Thailand.

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