The United States remains committed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, declared Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States. “This is the primary mechanism by which we engage the region, and you will continue to see our commitment to it at the highest levels,” he added.
The United States is going to leverage all available tools to strengthen its relations with ASEAN, including through foreign assistance. “As part of that effort, we’re delivering $2.5 billion in U.S. government strategic investments in Southeast Asia, reinforcing our commitment to the region, and we’re investing because the development of ASEAN is also in the interest of the United States,” announced Secretary Rubio. “This is not charity. ... Our partnership with each of your countries and the region at large, it’s in the national interest of the United States, and we will never abandon it.”
The U.S. is also seeking to leverage other financial tools available to seek new opportunities within ASEAN. “The recent approval by the Development Finance Corporation to provide $1.5 billion in new strategic investments advancing aviation infrastructure, energy security, and secure supply chains is among the things we want to achieve together,” cited Secretary Rubio.
“I believe very much that the future and the story of the 21st century will be written in this region and by how events unfold here,” declared Secretary Rubio. “And the security and prosperity of the United States and Southeast Asia will always depend on each other.”
As ASEAN develops its digital economy, diversifies its sources of energy, and builds a secure supply chain, the United States wants to provide solutions to these regional issues, said Secretary Rubio. “We’re committing to support security in the region through nearly $130 million in assistance to ASEAN countries for demining, which reflects our commitment to the safety of everyday citizens.”
“We’re also continuing to boost energy security in the region by supporting [liquified natural gas] market development, the deployment of U.S. grid technologies, and support to the ASEAN power grid, building safe, secure, and responsible civil nuclear energy programs and investing in regional energy infrastructure, including critical mineral supply chains.”
The United States stands with ASEAN, reiterated Secretary Rubio, “and we’re working together to strengthen our economies and our people through forward-looking collaboration that will ensure that the U.S. is your reliable and durable partner for the next 50 years and beyond.”