Arriving in Singapore on Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Vietnam today on the second stop of her Southeast Asia tour. But with geopolitical considerations guiding affairs, Amnesty International's Carolyn Nash says the region's many human rights issues must not be sacrificed at the altar of US political interests.
#Region #USA #Politics #HumanRights #CarolynNash

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/kamala-harris-southeast-asia/

US president Joe Biden’s first year has been an uncertain time for US-Thai relations. What could have been an opportunity to advance strategic objectives, depart from the soured relations of the Trump and Obama administrations and recognise Thailand’s geographical position as a critical Indo-Pacific partner, instead has been characterised by a lack of engagement and exclusion from Biden’s strategic vision. Globe’s columnist Mark S. Cogan discusses the missed opportunities and overlooked importance of Thailand-US diplomacy and why in 2022 Biden has his work cut out for him. 
#Thailand #USA #Diplomacy #MarkSCogan

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/inconsistency-biden-us-relations-with-thailand/

U.S. president Joe Biden is ushering in a “new era” of relations with Southeast Asia. As part of an effort to increase ties with the region, the American leader’s new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework aims to create stronger, more resilient economies for people and businesses in its partnership nations. But the benefits for Southeast Asian countries are unclear and could be a long time coming. In his latest analysis, Globe columnist Mark S. Cogan discusses why Biden’s lack of commitment to his own initiative leaves this international framework vulnerable and why its structure needs shaping by engaged partners for immediate economic advantages to be felt. 
#Region #Biden #USA #economics #ASEAN #southeastasia #MarkSCogan

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/bidens-new-economic-framework-holds-slim-gains-for-southeast-asia/

Financing ‘mine action,’ the removal of landmines and other unexploded ordnance, is a cornerstone of United States’ foreign policy in Indochina. Landscape surveys, detection equipment, safety gear and medical teams are just a few of the expenses dedicated towards mine action but the U.S. Department of State’s most recent fiscal budget proposal is sparking concerns over annual funding declines. Globe’s Anton L. Delgado explores how, as American aid to conventional weapons destruction faces global cuts, Indochina is hit hard.

#laos #vietnam #usa #landmines

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/laos-ordnance-disposal-money-may-shrink/

Since Cambodia took up the mantle of this year’s ASEAN chair, the Kingdom has drawn increased attention from influential eyes in the international community. A  highlight of the country’s heightened diplomatic position is the recent visit of  U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, who met with members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government on 12 and 13 July. Globe’s Brian P. D. Hannon was there to hear Kritenbrink share expressions and actions of solidarity and concerns over the Kingdom’s human and political rights record.

#internationalrelations #diplomacy #usa #Cambodia

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/cambodia-and-asean-remain-in-the-american-spotlight/

Thailand’s foreign policy has been described as bamboo, bending in the wind towards China or the United States. Recently, the Kingdom’s joining of U.S President Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and resistance to a Thailand-China-Laos train have been read as signs the Kingdom is leaning away from the East Asian superpower. Globe columnist, Mark S. Cogan tackles the premature assumptions that Thailand is defying Beijing and bending towards the U.S. through his analysis of the Kingdom’s military modernisation, trade partnerships and foreign policy. 

#thailand #usa #foreignpolicy #internationalrelations

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/is-thailand-bending-toward-the-united-states-think-again/

Vietnam's influence in ASEAN has been rising. Since the establishment of membership, the country’s main interest has shifted from seeking economic development to bridging relations with external major powers like India and Russia. But in the face of growing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, it has faced potential challenges to the effectiveness of its regional strategies. In this analysis, Hien Phan, a doctoral researcher in ASEAN security and politics at the University of New South Wales, discusses Vietnam's ASEAN policy and its prospects amid the U.S. - China rivalry.

#vietnam #china #asean #politics #usa #internationalrelations #southchinasea

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/asean-is-vietnams-platform-to-diversify-relationships-with-major-powers/