Trapped between an unpredictable Washington and a distrusted Beijing, Southeast Asia refuses to pick sides. Key takeaways: The United States will remain a central security and economic actor in Southeast Asia during President Trump’s second term, although its approach to the region will continue to be driven by unilateralism and transactionalism. The more critical view… Continue reading No easy choice: Southeast Asia’s split views on US leadership and China’s rise
With Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN in October 2025, the vision of the association’s founding fathers has been fulfilled: all Southeast Asian nations are now united within a single regional institution. Key takeaways: Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN in 2025 was a significant milestone for a small, post-conflict nation and the poorest country in Southeast Asia. To… Continue reading Timor-Leste’s bet on ASEAN: A path to institutional and economic transformation
Key takeaway: The current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, along with overlapping strategic interests of the EU and ASEAN, creates strong opportunities to deepen Europe–Southeast Asia relations across the board. Established EU–ASEAN cooperation mechanisms provide a solid platform for smaller EU members to advance ties with ASEAN and individual Southeast Asian countries. To stand out, however,… Continue reading 2027 and beyond: Advancing EU and Slovak relations with Southeast Asia
Key takeaways: In May 2026, ASEAN concluded negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), with expected signing in November 2026 during the ASEAN Summit. As ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to grow from less than US$400 billion in 2022 to US$2 trillion by 2030, the DEFA will reshape the conditions under which European firms… Continue reading Preparing for DEFA: A European strategy for ASEAN’s digital market
Key takeaways: ASEAN should be a priority partner for the EU in establishing a “strategic partnership on semiconductors” as envisioned by the proposed Chips Act 2.0. The EU and ASEAN should focus on high-value-added investment, mutually beneficial R&D partnerships, cooperation on certification, development of raw materials projects, and workforce development to build synergies in semiconductor… Continue reading Chips that connect: EU–ASEAN cooperation in a fragmented world
