Jakarta, 5 August 2022 (TDI): Since 2002, the United States (US) has provided over $12.1 billion in economic, health, development, and security assistance to Southeast Asian allies and partners, including the members of ASEAN.
US steadily deepened partnership and trade ties with Southeast Asia.
The United States has provided over $12.1 billion in development, economic, health, and security assistance to Southeast Asian allies and partners, including the members of ASEAN, since 2002.
Read the fact-sheet “The United States-@ASEAN Relationship”: https://t.co/c3lNaLpRgS
— US Mission to ASEAN (@USMission2ASEAN) August 4, 2022
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken travel to Phnom Penh in Cambodia from August 3 to 5 to participate in ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 29th ASEAN Regional Forum.
In every meeting, Secretary Blinken will emphasize the US commitments to ASEAN for regional, political, and economic development. In 2022, the US celebrates 45 years of U.S.-ASEAN partner relations.
United States and ASEAN enduring partnership
US and ASEAN shared wide-ranging business and trade connections. In 2020, 630,000 Americans visited Southeast Asia and spent more than $1.3 billion, with more than 6,200 US businesses that are operating there.
US looking forward to developing to establishing a US-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The partnership enhances collaboration between ASEAN and US in several areas such as energy, transportation, women empowerment, climate change, and health.
US and ASEAN are working together to counter regional and global challenges and transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, and cybercrimes.
US and ASEAN are also collaborating to strengthen regional capacity and advance ASEAN’s Bali Work Plan to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism.
The US supports a free and open Indo-Pacific under international law. The US also asked Burma to adopt democracy and stop unjust and violent activities in the state.
The US condemns Russia’s unjustified war in Ukraine. ASEAN and US both reaffirm the respect for political independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
US and ASEAN also promote maritime security. United States deployed U.S. Coast Guard regional training team in Southeast Asia and announced $60 million in new regional maritime security initiatives.
The US also supports technology, science, and innovation development in ASEAN. A new initiative started that will support business innovation and research collaboration.
The initiative known as the $3.5 million Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation Program promotes associations between US and ASEAN.
US and ASEAN also working on the issues of water transport. US supports AEASN for energy security and energy market integration through ASEAN-US Energy Cooperation Work Plan.
The ASEAN Nature Finance Innovation Roundtable will be held in 2023 as part of the US-ASEAN Forest Future Initiative. It aims to raise more money for the long-term preservation, restoration, and sustainable management of Southeast Asia’s most important ecosystems.
Aside from that through university exchange programs, research grants, and opportunities for professional development across ASEAN, the Department of State is dedicated to interacting with the next generation of leaders in ASEAN.
Since 1951, programs supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the State Department have benefited over 33,000 exchange participants from ASEAN member states.
Many exchanges supported by US funding promote gender equality and women’s empowerment such as YSEALI Leadership Academy.
YSEALI Leadership Academy works for young women leaders to advance their leadership skills, and understand the importance of human capital development and civic engagement to support their work on human rights issues.
The US is dedicated to leading the international effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and working with ASEAN to improve the security of global health. The US has contributed more than $200 million to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United States looks forward to continuing to build back a healthier world together.
Student of BS International Relations in Kinnaird College for Women. Currently, working in 'TDI' as a contributor.
