THE announcement that US President Donald Trump will attend three important summits in South-east Asia in November will reassure Asean about American commitments to the region.

However, the presidential visit may not ease worries about the Trump administration's abandonment of former president Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" in favour of a turn towards home instead.

The Obama pivot is over. The Trump administration is yet to unveil its Asia policy, but it is determined to maintain US's status as a Pacific power, evident in the president's planned visit to Asean, the recent displays of US military power around the Korean peninsula and Mr Trump's pledge to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the US would defend Japan both in conventional or nuclear war.