Advertisement
Zelensky-Trump clash sparks jitters in Asean nations over reliability of US commitments
Each nation in the bloc has different needs and ties with US and China, posing tests for non-alignment, analysts say
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
45
When US President Donald Trump had a flare-up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, anxiety rippled through America’s global alliances. For many, it reinforced fears that Washington’s commitment to its partners could be precarious.
Southeast Asia is keenly observing the unfolding geopolitical dynamics.
Each of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) engages with both China and the United States, striving to find a balance between the US Indo-Pacific strategy and China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea.
Observers say that under pressure from Trump, Asean’s long policy of neutrality and non-alignment between Beijing and Washington is to be further tested – although its neutral tradition could remain unchanged.
08:00
The full heated argument between Zelensky, Trump and Vance
The full heated argument between Zelensky, Trump and Vance
The analysts said Asean members’ diplomatic actions had largely been bilateral rather than collective, indicating that some states, such as the Philippines, might face more serious challenges from Trump’s administration than others.
Advertisement