The United States has outlined its vision for a secure and prosperous Southeast Asia, emphasizing cooperation with ASEAN to promote regional stability. The U.S. aims to foster an environment free from coercion, focusing on safety, security, sovereignty, self-determination, and prosperity. This vision aligns with ASEAN centrality and seeks to enhance capabilities through collaboration.
Since 2010, the U.S. has engaged closely with ASEAN on defense matters in the Indo-Pacific region. A U.S. Secretary of Defense has attended every ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) since its inception. As the fifteenth anniversary of ADMM-Plus approaches in 2025, the U.S. reflects on these cooperative ties.
"The United States welcomes a strong ASEAN that speaks with a powerful voice on key issues," according to the statement. The shared principles between ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the U.S.'s Indo-Pacific Strategy aim to ensure peace and stability.
Since 2005, the U.S. has elevated its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under President Biden's leadership in 2023. Over $17 billion in foreign military sales have been delivered to ASEAN Member States since then.
The United States has conducted numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises annually involving around 30,000 forces supporting partner readiness and interoperability. More than 76,000 students from Southeast Asia have received professional military education from the U.S., enhancing people-to-people ties.
A significant investment is being made in maritime security through initiatives like the Maritime Security Initiative which provided over $475 million since 2016 for maritime operational capabilities enhancement across seven ASEAN member states.
Key areas of focus include domain awareness across airspace, cyberspace, maritime regions; educational opportunities; defense industrial capacity building; climate impact mitigation; and support for Timor Leste's accession as an eleventh member of ASEAN.
Timor Leste will be included in these efforts "as appropriate" following its accession road map milestones.
