The 36th Annual ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue

The United States and ASEAN held the 36th annual ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue on May 24 in Washington, D.C., to discuss expanded cooperation under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink co-chaired the dialogue with Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of ASEAN Cooperation Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink reaffirmed the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and the security and prosperity of our regional partners, including through its support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The co-chairs celebrated the major milestones of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership in recent years, including the upgrade of our ties to a CSP in 2022 and the launch of the U.S.-ASEAN Center in Washington, D.C., in 2023.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink discussed pressing geopolitical issues with his ASEAN counterparts, including how best to:  facilitate a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific; support peaceful arbitration of disputes; and promote sovereignty in the region. He underscored the United States’ close coordination with ASEAN to support Burma’s path to inclusive democracy, in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The Assistant Secretary called for the military regime to immediately end the violence, release those unjustly detained, and allow unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.  He further expressed the need to uphold freedom of the seas and adherence to international law in the South China Sea.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink underlined the United States’ commitment to strengthening strong trade and investment relationships with and between ASEAN countries, highlighting the United States as the top source of foreign direct investment in the region. In addition to promoting an inclusive digital economy, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation on climate change, cybersecurity, the development of emerging technologies, upholding freedom of navigation, and promoting the unimpeded flow of lawful commerce. He further highlighted the importance of people-to-people ties and U.S.-ASEAN efforts to deliver concrete benefits for our combined one billion people. He also reiterated U.S. support for Timor-Leste’s full ASEAN accession.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink reiterated U.S. support for Lao PDR’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024, and both co-chairs said they looked forward to joining the upcoming ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit Senior Officials’ Meetings in Vientiane June 7-8.