(Photo: Reuters)Annual meetings between Asean leaders and major powers from both the West and East have made Asean an important strategic partner. It is impractical for Mr Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris to attend in person. Mr Biden is focused on his legacy in his last months in office, while Ms Harris is busy with her presidential election campaign. Mr Blinken attended the Asean summit once in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2022, and in May, he held a special summit with Asean leaders in Washington, DC. The challenge for the US is to balance its global priorities while keeping its strategic partnership with Asean strong and beneficial for both sides.
