International cooperation
ASEAN summit: US government wants to give millions for projects
US President Joe Biden (M) and the heads of state and government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the photo opportunity in front of the White House in Washington. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP/dpa
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The US sees China as an increasingly powerful competitor. Washington therefore wants to expand cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia. US President Biden is now receiving the summit meeting.
The US government has announced new US initiatives and projects with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Asean worth around 150 million US dollars (around 144 million euros).
“We are very proud of this. We believe this reflects the strengthening of ties,” said a US government official. “We need to step up our engagement in Southeast Asia and work more closely with Asean in this regard.” US President Joe Biden received the association’s heads of state and government on Thursday evening in the White House. The actual summit takes place today.
Expand regional energy trading
Among other things, the USA announced 40 million US dollars (around 36 million euros) for clean energy infrastructure in Southeast Asia. “We will expand regional energy trade and accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies, which we see as critical not only for combating climate change in this fast-growing region, but also for supporting broad-based economic growth in Southeast Asian countries,” it said.
Around 60 million US dollars (around 58 million euros) are to be invested in new regional maritime initiatives. A US Coast Guard vessel is to be deployed to Southeast Asia to promote security cooperation and serve as a training platform, the government official said. Further funds go, for example, into projects for digitization or criminal prosecution.
Asean is a member of ten countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Biden had already promised the countries closer cooperation in a video link last October. The US President is paying particular attention to this – also to counter China’s growing thirst for power.
Biden: Don’t decide between the US and China
“As for China, the country is of course an important player in the region,” the government official said. Asean countries are not asked to choose between China and the US. However, one wants to make it clear that the US government is striving for stronger relations with the Asean countries and recognizes that it has to respond to the wishes of the countries in the region.
Biden and the heads of state and government from Asia took the group photo traditionally customary at such summits in the South Garden of the White House. Biden then hosted dinner for the guests.
The meeting in Washington will also deal with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Myanmar after the military coup of February last year. Myanmar officials will not attend the summit. The US government has imposed sanctions on the military regime in the country.