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President Joe Biden is urging Southeast Asian leaders to speak more directly about Russian aggression against Ukraine, but the issue continues to be delicate for many members of ASEAN, the 10-nation alliance that has strong ties to Moscow.
President Biden hosted a dinner at the White House on Thursday evening for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking the start of a two-day high-level meeting in Washington since its inception. 45 years ago.
The White House will also send a signal that it is increasing engagement in the Pacific, even though the administration is focused on the war in Ukraine.
But President Biden is aware that reaching a consensus with ASEAN members on Russian aggression could be difficult.
Some ASEAN members – Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos – have long been dependent on Russia for military equipment. With the exception of Singapore – the only member of the group to impose direct sanctions on Moscow – the alliance has avoided denouncing President Vladimir Putin, or Russia’s war.
Indonesia has been reluctant to comment publicly on the aggression and, like the Philippines, has made it clear it will not impose sanctions on Russia. Thailand joined a United Nations vote against aggression against Ukraine, but has maintained a neutral stance on the war.
President Biden has intensified efforts to improve relations with the Pacific, considering China’s strengthening as the biggest economic and national security challenge for the United States.
But his efforts in this direction have been complicated by the worst conflict in Europe since World War II.
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