Will unveil new regional trade pact plan.
The leaders of eight Southeast Asian nations were hosted at the White House by the president this week for a two-day meeting underscoring the importance of the region. It is the first meeting of the group known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the White House. The ASEAN countries are home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and most contested waters, being at the epicenter of U.S.-China competition.
The White House announced $150 million in initiatives in areas including clean energy, maritime security, and digital development. The administration will also be unveiling a regional trade framework for the broader Indo-Pacific to set standards on things like labor practices and digital trade.
The White House said the summit and accompanying announcements should be seen as a recognition that “we need to step up our game in Southeast Asia.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the president and his administration in the wake of the U.S.-ASEAN meetings.
- For God’s purposes to be accomplished in the outcomes of discussions between the president and foreign leaders.
- For Secretaries Blinken and Austin as U.S. diplomatic and military interests are monitored and addressed in the Indo-Pacific.
Sources: Axios, Reuters
