Examining ASEAN-US Special Summit 2022

The recent ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington, D.C., indicates the Biden administration’s attempt to counter China’s influence in Southeast Asia and strengthen the US’ relations with ASEAN. This article argues that even though the Summit produced several noticeable results, it indicated key limitations in US engagement strategy towards the bloc. Those include the lack of a clear economic plan, an underwhelming financial commitment, and a missed opportunity for bilateral dialogues between US President Joe Biden and his ASEAN counterparts.