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The strategic presence of the United States in Southeast Asia takes two forms, both of which are interrelated: the relationship is institutionalized through the Pacific Command in Honolulu and then formalized through various hub-and-spoke agreements with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The annual Cobra Gold military exercises with Thailand; the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines; and the right of passage through the Straits of Malacca with the mutual consent of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, all manifest the extent to which the U.S. remains engaged in the region. This has had some analysts referring to the U.S. as a classic offshore balancer: it guarantees the security of the region, and in turn, ensures that its best interests are protected.