The Latest on Southeast Asia

The CSIS biweekly update on Southeast Asia brings you cutting edge analysis of the latest political, economic, and security trends in the region.

AllThe Latest on Southeast Asia Blog Posts

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The Latest on Southeast Asia: Tariff Deal with Vietnam

President Donald Trump on July 2 declared that Vietnam and the United States had reached a deal to avoid the 46 percent “reciprocal tariffs” on Vietnamese imports into the United Statesannounced in early April.

Blog Post by Gregory B. Poling and Japhet Quitzon — July 3, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Border Row Threatens to Topple Thai Government

Thai and Cambodian troops on May 28 exchanged gunfire at the disputed Chong Bok pass where Thailand’s northeast Ubon Ratchathani province borders Cambodia’s Preah Vihear, leaving one Cambodian dead. And this week, Thailand’s governing coalition fractured, threatening to topple Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government. 

Blog Post by Gregory B. Poling and Japhet Quitzon — June 18, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Regional Relationship Building

The last week saw a spate of leader-level intraregional visits and deepened bilateral relationships between Indonesia and Australia, Indonesia and Thailand, and Thailand and Vietnam. The symbolism of these deepening regional partnerships is noteworthy given the uncertainty fueled by U.S.-China strategic competition and the global trade war. 

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon — May 22, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Military Reform & Student Protests in Indonesia

On March 20, the Indonesian House of Representatives  passed significant revisions to the 2004 Law on the Indonesian Armed Forces. After a series of clandestine deliberations conducted in luxury hotels, the amendments sped through the House less than a month after their introduction and President Prabowo Subianto’s written endorsement. 

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon — March 27, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: U.S. Withdrawal from JETP

On March 6, U.S. treasury secretary Scott Bessent withdrew the United States from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a platform for developed nations to aid developing nations transition from coal to clean energy. 

Blog Post by Japhet Quitzon — March 13, 2025

The Latest on Southeast Asia: Trump’s Defense Alliances in Southeast Asia

Within the first 30 days of the second Trump administration, the United States has focused on its bilateral defense alliances in Southeast Asia, with U.S. secretary of defense Pete Hegseth holding phone calls with counterpart officials in the Philippines and Thailand. 

Blog Post by Lauren Mai — February 27, 2025