Policy gaps to test South-east Asia-US security ties

Significance

Both documents will reflect Trump’s emphasis on military solutions to foreign policy problems, which has also been evident from his appointment of several former high-ranking military officers to top national security posts. This trend will likely strengthen traditional US security partnerships in South-east Asia: with Thailand and the Philippines, the two US allies, and with Singapore. However, it could complicate US counterterrorism cooperation with South-east Asian governments, which relies more on partnerships with police and intelligence agencies.

Impacts

• Trump needs to manage Duterte’s suspicion of Washington to build a stronger Philippines-US relationship.
• This would support a greater US naval presence in the South China Sea.
• It will also be crucial to tackling IS in South-east Asia given the southern Philippines’ vulnerability to terrorists.
• Washington will need further to warm ties with other IS-vulnerable South-east Asian countries such as Myanmar.