‘When ASEAN is prosperous, the world is better off’: US envoy on building closer ties with the regional bloc

Mr Abraham, who was sworn in as US envoy to ASEAN in September last year, said being committed to ASEAN centrality means working closely with and through the bloc on a range of key issues, whether they are challenges or opportunities, and showing itself “to be a reliable and durable partner”. 
 
These include ensuring public health security and addressing the impact of climate change, which some Southeast Asian countries are particularly susceptible to.
 
“And as we do so, we have to do what we can to continue to see this as a region of growth and see to the prosperity of our people,” said Mr Abraham, a former chief of staff of the National Security Council. 
 
“I don’t think it would be responsible to say there’s a singular challenge that we’re focused on, because there’s any number of them that we’re all better off on if we work together.”