Southeast Asia is watching the US-Israel conflict with Iran — and quietly drawing conclusions. Most countries have adopted a policy of non-interference, but behind the cautious and neutral stances, they are accelerating efforts to reduce their defense dependence on Washington.
The recent US-Indonesia defense agreement, followed by an apparent rift between the Indonesian defense and foreign ministries over granting the US overflight rights above the Strait of Malacca, resulting in a hold on access, clearly illustrates this tension.
President Trump’s unpredictable, transactional foreign policy has widened the divide between Washington and many Southeast Asian capitals. Eroding trust and diminishing alignment are increasingly visible, while US disengagement from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) multilateralism signals a diminishing role in the region.
Though suggestions of a diminished US role in the region have circulated for some time, they have not always been backed by concrete evidence or outcomes. Successive administrations managed to reassert engagement after periods of drift. Those were seen in the “Pivot to Asia” under Barack Obama, the Indo-Pacific strategy during the first Trump administration and its continuation under Joe Biden.
At present, however, US influence appears to be declining more markedly. One key and visible indicator is the absence of unequivocal support from allies and partners during the ongoing Middle East crisis. Even traditionally friendly countries have voiced criticism of the US’s war against Iran.
Source: Asiatimes
