During an Asean-US foreign ministers' meeting last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Asean's importance as a strategic partner. The United States, he said, remains committed to fighting the coronavirus pandemic, achieving economic growth, and addressing the climate emergency together with its regional friends.
Washington, he added, also looked forward to strengthening military and security cooperation with several Asean nations, including the Philippines and Singapore.
At the Aspen Security Forum on Aug 3, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the fact that Mr Blinken had recently visited the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, which bodes well for the region. US Vice President Kamala Harris will also be visiting Vietnam and Singapore from Aug 20-26.
These developments speak volumes about Southeast Asia's importance, and how the administration of President Joe Biden values Asean as a key strategic partner, in stark contrast to the Trump administration.
As the Covid pandemic continues to wreak havoc in many parts of the world, and most notably in Southeast Asia, the United States hopes countries can return to normalcy soon, and has been helping its allies with vaccine donations and emergency funds.
As of Aug 4, the US had given some 23 million vaccine doses to Asean nations, including Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand, and US$158 million in emergency funds.
To facilitate economic recovery in Asean, Mr Blinken recently announced initiatives to help small and medium-sized businesses, boost innovation and support digital and sustainable projects in the region.
In 2020, the US invested $328.5 billion in Asean nations. These investments will help significantly in stimulating economic recovery and creating jobs during the pandemic.
Vietnam's second-biggest trading partner is now the United States, with bilateral trade worth $90 billion last year. Relations between the two countries have been improving steadily since 1995 despite vast differences in political ideology, based on common understanding and values such as economic freedom.
As the United States looks to forge greater bonds in the broader Indo-Pacific region, the country views Vietnam as an important strategic partner.
Indonesia and the United States have enjoyed cordial relations since 1949, and they ratified a strategic partnership in 2015.
On her visit to Jakarta in May this year, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman reaffirmed those strong ties and discussed solving regional problems. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reciprocated by visiting Mr Blinken in Washington on Aug 3.
The United States is Indonesia's major trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $27.2 billion last year.
Chemical products and electronics had played an important part in the rise in trade between the two countries, Indonesian Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said recently. He hopes bilateral trade will reach $60 billion within the next three years.
Thailand and the United States have a diplomatic relationship going back 188 years. The environment has been a recent focus of the relationship, with the US State Department participating in a project to improve air quality monitoring.
It is working with the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand and Chiang Mai University on an air sensor to better detect pollutants. The Thai government can use this data, as well as the Mekong Air Quality Explorer tool, to develop more accurate air quality forecasts and management.
The Philippines and the United States this year are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of their Mutual Defence Treaty. One of the oldest defence treaties in the world, it acts as a deterrent to any foreign intervention, and allows US troops to protect Philippine sovereignty.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has also revived the Visiting Forces Agreement, a key military pact with the United States. It allows the US military easy access into the country to conduct drills and exercises.
Mr Biden has asserted to key partners, especially Southeast Asian allies that "America is back". The recent visits and talks with Asean nations are a strong indication of a return to a more conventional foreign policy after four years of drama under Donald Trump, and that the US considers Asean a key strategic partner.
This bodes well for the Asean bloc as there will be more consistency and credibility in the US diplomatic approach than under the Trump administration. Both parties can now look forward to working with each other closely and pursuing a speedy economic recovery from the pandemic.
Ong Bo Yang, currently a Master of Science student at the University of Warwick, majoring in Programme and Project Management, has written for Asean newspapers including The Phnom Penh Post, The Myanmar Times, The Business Times and VnExpress.