This was in the middle of the Ukraine War. Washington’s number one foreign policy priority is the President Joe Biden is hosting Southeast Asian leaders in Washington — signaling U.S. commitment to the region where it is engaged in a tussle for dominance with China.

Some critical issues — like the post-Covid economic revival, climate change and the Myanmar coup — will be on the table at the two-day meeting starting Thursday. Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc of 10 countries that together make up the world’s seventh-largest economy, will be there.

Ong Keng Yoong, ex-secretary-general of ASEAN said that security issues would likely be discussed at the summit.

Ong stated that “It’s inevitable that geopolitics, international security issues will be discussed and raised, but I don’t expect any dramatic steps.”

According to the White House, the summit will “demonstrate America’s enduring commitment towards ASEAN…and commemorate 45 year-old U.S.–ASEAN relations.”

To contain China, the U.S. often emphasizes ASEAN’s “centrality” in its Indo Pacific strategy. This emphasis provides the region — populated by nations unwilling to openly choose between the U.S. and China — with some bargaining power.

Ong is also Singapore’s Ambassador-at-large. He said that Asia was enough for the U.S. to remain engaged, despite being preoccupied with the conflict in Ukraine. He stated that “Since 1945, it has been obvious that Europe is first to the U.S. than any other part of the globe.”

ASEAN believes that American strength and vitality, as well as the Asian Pacific Ocean will be a valuable resource to the United States and help ensure its future prosperity.

“ASEAN would like to see an economic framework with some concessions and a clearer strategy toward regional security, especially involving the South China Sea,” a senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the  Council on Foreign Relations, Joshua Kurlantzick, told CNBC.

Biden’s Indo-Pacific Strategy,The February statement states that Washington will investigate opportunities for the Quad of working with Southeast Asian governments. ASEAN however would appreciate more US support for ASEAN’s led initiatives.

Quad, officially known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue,It is comprised of India, Australia, Japan, and Japan in a strategic partnership that aims to counter China’s growing military presence in Indo-Pacific.

Aukus, which is Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. are separate security alliances that were launched in Indo-Pacific last September.

Joanne Lin (lead researcher, ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEASYUSof Ishak Institute, Singapore) stated that ASEAN would like more U.S. support for its ASEAN-led mechanism, rather than U.S.-led minlateral groups such as Quad or Aukus.

“The U.S. support to the ASEAN Outlook in the Indo-PacificLin stated that “will be important” in reference to the 2019 ASEAN document, where ASEAN defined its geostrategic concepts of the Indo-Pacific area after ex-President Donald Trump had released his vision for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Many people living in Southeast Asia see the U.S. as something that is contested between Asian conservatism or U.S. democratic liberalism, according to Ong, former ASEAN secretary-general.

Sure, there are many forms of autocratic governance across ASEAN. Ong noted that many mutually-beneficial joint initiatives are possible to improve ties in a larger area.

The U.S. could discuss it Indo-Pacific Economic FrameworkBiden announced the news at last year’s East Asia Summit. These could include innovative approaches to trade and securing supply chain chains. 

Lin, from the ISEASYUSof Ishak Institute said that “the U.S. is still fleshing the framework’s contents but it is unlikely to impress ASEAN.” “A lack of market access, high labor standards and environmental regulations may cause problems for some ASEAN members.”

There may be “some progress on the Indo Pacific Economic Framework but it is unlikely to see binding U.S. commitments,” said CFR’s Kurlantzick, adding that expectations from the summit will be “fairly low” — given that so much else is happening in the world.

Biden won’t be able to attend the meeting without two ASEAN members: Rodrigo Duterte (Phonenian President) and Min Aung Hlaing (Middle East junta leader), who were elected from Aung San Suu Kyi by a coup in February 2021.