Towards a Strategic Partnership between the USA and ASEAN

Abstract

Globalization demands a global diplomacy adaptable to regional requirements. In the Asia-Pacific area the close engagement between the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States of America (US) remains a key foundation for regional peace, security and prosperity.

For ASEAN the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia (TAC) is a legal code of conduct governing relations in the region. The US acceded to the TAC in 2009. That was a very significant symbol of collective political commitment offering useful juridical foundations for the implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership released in November 2005. This partnership must continuously be adapted to new dynamics and realities.

By the Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting of November 20, 2012, the door was officially open to elevate this partnership to a strategic level. The US endorsed ASEAN centrality in future attempts to build a new regional architecture. Defining a long-term workable and comprehensive strategy requires more energetic diplomatic efforts from all parties for deepening and broadening multi-dimensional cooperation in South-East Asia in the years to come.