Frage zu ASEAN stellte Hegseth bei Anhörung im Senat vor ein Rätsel. Was ist das und warum ist es wichtig?

SS: In a heated Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Tammy Duckworth challenged President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, over his knowledge of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a critical regional bloc comprising ten nations and soon to include East Timor. Hegseth struggled to name a single member or provide details about U.S. agreements with ASEAN, prompting Duckworth to suggest he “do a little homework.”

Founded in 1967, ASEAN promotes economic and security cooperation across a region of over 650 million people and a $3 trillion GDP. Its members, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, are embroiled in maritime disputes with China over the South China Sea, a key trade route, while balancing close ties with Beijing. The U.S., treaty partners with Thailand and the Philippines, elevated its ASEAN relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022, matching China’s status. ASEAN’s influence extends through partnerships with global powers, its annual summits, and its role in major trade agreements like RCEP and CPTPP, emphasizing its pivotal role in Indo-Pacific geopolitics.