Looking for a legacy in Asia-Pacific

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden saw the Asia-Pacific as key for his foreign policy, upon taking office in 2021. However, the crisis in Israel since late 2023, and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have shifted the emphasis of the administration’s focus in consequential, unexpected ways.

The fact that the Middle East and Eastern Europe remain uppermost on the Biden team’s mind was illustrated again last week when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shortened his Asia trip itinerary by a day to be present for the White House meeting between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jul 25. However, with around half a year left in office, Biden and Blinken are nonetheless seeking to craft a legacy in the vast Asia-Pacific geography.

It is this, and the reassurance about US commitment to the region, that Blinken is engaging allies about during his current trip to the region. His and the wider Biden team’s achievements include developing deeper partnerships across the region since 2021, including with Asean, India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.