THE Joe Biden administration will likely reboot American foreign policy on the maritime front and the strategic outlook in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and Malaysia.
Malaysian leaders were among the first to congratulate Biden on his election victory, an indication of the importance placed on continuing the strong and positive relationship between the two countries in the coming years.
During a Foreign Policy Address in July 2019 in New York, Biden laid out his policy vision for America, with the focus to restore dignified leadership at home and the world. It is forecast that the United States will advance security and prosperity through renewing its alliances with partners, including on traditional hard security issues such as nuclear proliferation and great power aggression, to non-traditional challenges such as climate change, mass migration, terrorism, and cyberwarfare.
These issues have a significant bearing on the maritime domains. In this regard, Biden's administration will have some continuity from the Obama administration that China's development imposes strategic challenges to the US. Correspondingly, it is also in line with assessments by the Department of Defence (DoD) since 2000 that they will be a threat to the US's global presence and dominance.
Although, the nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defence appears to give more weightage to issues such as the pandemic, the refugee crisis and climate change, Biden will have to calculate challenges and the complexity of this century, stress on the need to address shifts in strategic balance from the Asia-Pacific to the Indo-Pacific.
The foreign policy of the Biden administration must highlight the importance of the Indo-Pacific as a strategic component in dealing with global challenges. Biden pledged in his Foreign Policy lecture that the US will make the necessary investments in its armed forces while simultaneously elevating diplomatic engagements with partners and allies on global engagements in Europe and Asia.
In this respect, the US will promote a steady and incremental approach in its relationships with its Indo-Pacific partners of Australia, Japan, and India while focusing on building stronger commitments with Southeast Asian countries.
While most Southeast Asian countries face sharp economic contractions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, economic boost is expected with the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Nov 2020. In 2050, Southeast Asian countries are projected to be the fourth largest economy in the world.
Its cumulative economic, political, and demographic weight is growing and, as such, will feature more strongly in US foreign policy under Biden than under his predecessor. Southeast Asian nations too will closely watch the new US administration both on the bilateral and Asean fronts, in dealing with issues such as geo-strategic competition and in addressing the dilemma faced by Southeast Asia in handling the new balance of power conundrum.
For Malaysia, the traditional relationships with the US that revolve around trade, education, investments, and counterterrorism are expected to continue. However, additional focus will be needed on security and promoting stronger maritime cooperation and advocating a diplomatic but firm approach to the management of issues in the South China Sea.
In this regard, if statements by Biden as vice-president are indicative, the region can expect to see greater involvement by the US. He believed that the US should remain a committed power and presence in the Pacific and in ensuring secure sea lanes in the region.
This position would be strongly in the interest of the US, and in turn help maintain the peace and stability on which economic growth and prosperity can be built.
In conclusion, Biden promises a fresh outlook on the strategic direction of the US especially on global leadership that had retreated somewhat in the last four years.
Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations will be closely watching developments in anticipation of a renewed and stronger relationship with the US and in determining the future direction of the Indo-Pacific Region.
* The writer is Fellow, Centre for Straits of Malacca (SOM), Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA)