US Policy towards Southeast Asia: from Barack Obama to Joe Biden

The Southeast Asia region is of great geopolitical, economic, and strategic importance for both the Asia–Pacific region and worldwide. It also plays a part in the confrontation between the United States and China, where each power seeks to strengthen its influence. The People’s Republic of China, being geographically close to and having deep historical and cultural ties with the Southeast Asian countries, actively interacts with Southeast Asia in trade and investment. The United States is also actively investing and maintaining close security ties with the region. Understanding the importance of building partnerships with Southeast Asian countries, each American administration in the 21st century has sought to offer its own approach to interaction with this region. The policies of three administrations, B. Obama, D. Trump, and J. Biden, are examined. It is concluded that, over time, the United States is increasingly focusing on confrontation with China and does not consider interaction with Southeast Asia as an end in itself. Countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines have the potential to strengthen their relationship with the United States significantly.