US President Joe Biden is confirmed to attend the G20 summit in India, but his absence from the US-ASEAN and East Asia Summit meeting in Indonesia is noteworthy. The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States at these events, as confirmed by the White House on Tuesday (22/8). Reuters reported that Indonesia has intentionally adjusted the ASEAN Summit to 4-7 Sept to the timing with the G20 Summit in India on Sept. 9-10. This move accommodates a more closely aligned schedule, facilitating the US’s participation in all the meetings.
The US-ASEAN summit marks the culmination of a significant formal interaction between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and, indeed, will leverage the summit to have a ‘higher profile’ with the attendance of the US president. However, Biden missing the meeting may reflect the contradiction of his effort to engage partners in SEA.
Biden’s absence is bad news for Indonesia, which currently chairs ASEAN, as it will be the most important multilateral meeting for President Widodo before he leaves office next year. However, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno still has the opportunity to put Widodo and Biden in one frame when meeting at the Group of 20 Summit in India and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cooperation in the United States.
Implications of Biden’s Priorities towards ASEAN
The US-ASEAN Summit is a crucial platform that marks the significant diplomatic engagement of the US, facilitates multilateral cooperation, and addresses regional challenges together. President Joe Biden’s decision to confirm his absence from the upcoming US-ASEAN and East Asia summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, has sparked discussions about the importance of his decision in the US-ASEAN relationship and may impact perceptions of US commitment to the region. Previously, US officials quoted that President Biden viewed ASEAN as important in regional architecture and presents a critical role as ASEAN is the heart of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The absence of the U.S. President in Jakarta may also indicate a shift in priorities within the U.S. administration, suggesting that Indonesia might not be at the forefront of their concerns anymore. This could stem from concerns that Jakarta is aligning itself too closely with Beijing, the primary competitor to Washington. However, skipping the summits of Southeast Asian leaders is not a good move from Biden, especially noting the large importance of Indonesia as a regional player in the ASEAN. Moreover, in 2022, on a two-day summit with ASEAN, the US promised to spend $150 million on their infrastructure, security, pandemic preparedness, and countering China’s influence.
While the White House has dismissed the notion that President Joe Biden’s absence from the upcoming ASEAN talks suggests neglect towards Southeast Asia, observers argue that this perception will persist. This is attributed to the inconsistent history of U.S. presidents attending these annual meetings.
The White House mentioned that President Biden has participated in the US-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit in 2022 and 2021, and Kamala’s trip to Southeast Asia will be the third in the past two years. President Widodo and Biden have also met at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022 to discuss deeper ties in multiple sectors. Biden’s absence does not necessarily mean that the US is neglecting ASEAN, as the US has also been active in visiting the Indo-Pacific and key actors with face-to-face diplomacy. Biden’s engagement with his key players is also a move to deepen its ties with the ASEAN leaders. Moreover, not only will Kamala Harris still be present as the official US representative, but there will also be other US allies such as the Japanese, the European Union, and other like-minded countries and partners that will engage with the ASEAN member states.
Indonesia’s self-reflection
The nonattendance of President Biden is expected to carry implications for the ASEAN leaders, especially given the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China. Some observers argue that this absence could convey a lack of recognition or necessity on President Biden’s part to engage in the ASEAN Summit personally. In contrast to his engagement with his allies in the Indo-Pacific, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, Biden knows which countries to focus more on.
On a different note, Assoc Prof Rezasyah points out that Indonesia’s frequent changes of ambassadors—three within four years—have contributed to the nation’s inadequate preparation and capabilities to capture the US’s attention. The rapid turnover has also left the Indonesian embassy in Washington without an ambassador for long periods, a recurring issue. Once again, this shows the lightheartedness of Indonesia in viewing its relations with the US. Consequently, these dynamics have hindered Indonesia’s establishing a credible liaison to persuade Biden to visit the country.
If Indonesia and the US intend to increase their engagement in political, economic, and security affairs, they must show more dedication in the future. Active participation and commitment will lead to stronger relationships with their partners.
