BANGKOK — During a confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Senator Tammy Duckworth challenged Pete Hegseth on his knowledge regarding the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). She pressed him to identify at least one ASEAN member, outline the nature of the U.S.’s agreements with them, and specify the total number of countries within the organization.
Hegseth admitted that he could not accurately determine the number of ASEAN nations, instead mentioning alliances with South Korea and Japan through AUKUS, a security pact involving Australia, the UK, and the U.S. Duckworth pointed out that those three nations are not part of ASEAN, suggesting Hegseth should familiarize himself with the group.
ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with East Timor poised to join shortly. Founded in 1967, its primary goal is to enhance regional cooperation in economic and security matters, leveraging a total population exceeding 650 million and a collective GDP surpassing $3 trillion.
Duckworth’s inquiry followed Hegseth’s remarks about the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region, where China’s growing influence poses challenges as it asserts territorial claims. Several ASEAN nations, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, are engaged in maritime disputes with China over its expansive claims in the South China Sea, a vital maritime route. Indonesia has similarly voiced apprehensions about what it perceives as encroachment by China into its exclusive economic zone.
So why should the U.S. secretary of defense pay attention to ASEAN? The United States has defense treaties with ASEAN nations Thailand and the Philippines and seeks to leverage ASEAN’s influence in its efforts to mitigate China’s dominance and advocate for a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” as emphasized by the White House. President Joe Biden has cited ASEAN as central to his administration’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific region and convened ASEAN leaders in Washington in 2022.
ASEAN also conducts annual high-level meetings, and this year’s gathering took place in Malaysia, which chairs the group. These meetings typically see attendance from the U.S. defense secretary and U.S. secretary of state during defense and foreign minister meetings, culminating in an annual summit that the sitting U.S. president often attends. Both Presidents Biden and Trump have participated in these summits.
Additionally, ASEAN’s significance extends beyond its territorial disputes with China. Despite these conflicts, many member countries maintain strong ties with Beijing, and high-ranking Chinese officials often participate in ASEAN gatherings.
In 2022, the U.S. achieved a significant milestone by being recognized as a “comprehensive strategic partner” with ASEAN— a status that placed Washington on par with China, which received this designation the year before. ASEAN is distinguished by its emphasis on noninterference and personal diplomacy, and its diverse membership allows it to serve as a vital platform for addressing significant global challenges.
Beyond its relations with China and the U.S., ASEAN fosters formal partnerships with numerous global players, including Russia, India, Australia, the European Union, Britain, Japan, and South Korea. The bloc conducts annual “ASEAN Plus Three” meetings, which feature leaders from China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as “ASEAN Plus Six” discussions that include leaders from Australia, India, and New Zealand. Moreover, the East Asia Summit comprises these six countries along with the U.S. and Russia.
The ASEAN countries are instrumental in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement signed in 2020, forming the largest trading bloc ever. Together, the 10 ASEAN nations and their partners—China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—represent over 30% of the global population and contribute approximately 30% of global GDP. Established during ASEAN’s 2011 summit, RCEP encompasses commitments related to trade in goods and services, investments, and various other sectors.
Several ASEAN countries are also signatories to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade pact that includes members such as Mexico, Canada, Australia, Britain, Chile, Peru, and Japan, accounting for over 14% of global GDP.
