The State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey
Southeast Asia: Not Choosing Sides but Options
Joanne Lin|Melinda Martinus
Dealt a tough deck of geopolitical cards, Southeast Asia wagers on flexibility and plurilateralism.

The State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey
Joanne Lin|Melinda Martinus
Dealt a tough deck of geopolitical cards, Southeast Asia wagers on flexibility and plurilateralism.
Hoang Thi Ha|Eugene R.L. Tan
The US’ human and intellectual connections to Southeast Asia are gradually being undermined.
The State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey
Joanne Lin
Across a broad range of indicators, the US’ broader standing in the region has weakened.
The State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey
Joanne Lin
Southeast Asia has traditionally preferred not to take sides in the long-standing Sino-US rivalry. A fall in confidence in the US makes this a harder choice to make.
Hoang Thi Ha
The 2nd Trump administration has overturned long-standing pillars of US foreign policy, slashing aid, weaponising tariffs, and dismantling multilateral and normative commitments. Southeast Asia – with deep ties to the US economically, strategically, and developmentally – has been particularly vulnerable to these shocks.
Ryan Hass
The world is transitioning out of a U.S.-led international order, but there is not yet clarity on the attributes of the next international order that will take its place. This Long Read argues that the period of transition could be turbulent, but it need not be destructive to the upward growth prospects of Southeast Asia.
Stephen Olson
Beyond the pomp and pageantry of Trump’s visit to Southeast Asia, some aspects of America’s policies towards the region have become clearer.
Tang Siew Mun
US President Donald Trump’s decision to attend the upcoming ASEAN Summits in Kuala Lumpur has put the Malaysian authorities in a pickle.
Joanne Lin|William Choong
President Trump will make a spectacle of his presence in Kuala Lumpur, but is unlikely to offer ASEAN the reliable, long-term engagement it seeks.
Jayant Menon
Facing Trump’s latest round of tariffs, Southeast Asian exports face a dilemma. But the incentive to “eat” or absorb the tariffs might diminish over time.