[Recordings] The Second Trump Administration: Opportunities and Challenges for United States-Southeast Asian Relations
Recorded 03.27.2025
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s reelection, Southeast Asian states braced for a return to the transactional America First policy of his first administration. NYSEAN and Weatherhead East Asian Institute’s daylong conference analyzes potential scenarios for the trajectory of U.S.-Southeast Asian relations over the next four years.
Featured speakers include Walden Bello, Pongphisoot Busbarat, Thomas Christensen, Sophal Ear, Joseph Chinyong Liow, Derek Mitchell, Ann Marie Murphy, Hong Hai Nguyen, Lien-Hang Nguyen, Elina Noor, Praslhant Parameswaran, Gregory Poling, Yohanes Sulaiman, and Ayumi Teraoka. These leading experts examine the implications of a second Trump administration for US-Southeast Asian relations at this critical junction in global politics.
This event was organized by NYSEAN, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University, and the Columbia-Harvard China and the World program.
Speakers:
Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Dorothy Borg Chair in the History of the United States and East Asia; Director, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Ann Marie Murphy, Professor, Seton Hall University, Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Speakers:
“U.S. Policy Toward Southeast Asia: The View from Washington”
Derek Mitchell, former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar (Burma) (2012-2016); Senior Advisor (non-resident), Asia Program & Executive Office, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Office of the President
“Prospects for U.S.-China Relations Under Trump II: Implications for Southeast Asia”
Thomas Christensen, James T. Shotwell Professor of International Relations, Columbia University
“Prospects for U.S.-Japan Relations Under Trump II: Implications for Southeast Asia”
Ayumi Teraoka, Postdoctoral Fellow, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Moderator:
Ann Marie Murphy, Professor, Seton Hall University, Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Speakers:
“Prospects for U.S.-Singapore Relations under Trump II”
Joseph Chinyong Liow, Dean of College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
“Prospects for U.S.-Philippines Relations under Trump II: The View from Washington”
Gregory B. Poling, Director & Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
“Prospects for U.S.-Philippines Relations under Trump II: The View from Manilla”
Walden Bello, Philippines academic; human rights activist; former Philippine Congressman
“Prospects for U.S.-Indonesian Relations under Trump II”
Yohanes Sulaiman, Associate Professor, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani
Moderator:
John Gershman, Clinical Professor of Public Service; Director, International Specialization and International Capstone Programs, Wagner School of Public Service, New York University
Speakers:
“Prospects for U.S.–Thai Relations Under Trump II”
Pongphisoot Busbarat, Assistant Dean & Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University; Director, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS Thailand); Former Dorothy Borg Postdoctoral Fellow in Southeast Asian Studies
“Prospects for U.S.–Malaysian Relations Under Trump II”
Elina Noor, Senior Fellow, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (via Zoom)
“Prospects for U.S.–Cambodian Relations Under Trump II”
Sophal Ear, Associate Professor, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University; President, International Public Management Network (IPMN)
“Prospects for U.S.–Vietnamese Relations Under Trump II”
Hong Hai Nguyen, Senior Lecturer, VinUniversity, Fulbright Scholar, American University
Moderator:
Ann Marie Murphy, Professor, Seton Hall University, Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Speakers:
“Trends in the South China Sea: Implications for the United States and Southeast Asia”
Gregory B. Poling, Director & Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
“Technical and Digital Competition in Southeast Asia”
Elina Noor, Senior Fellow, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (via Zoom)
“Prospects for U.S.-ASEAN Relations”
Prashanth Parameswaran, Senior Fellow, Asia Program, the Wilson Center; CEO & Founder, ASEAN Wonk Global; Senior Columnist, The Diplomat (via Zoom)
Moderator:
Amy Freedman, Department Chairperson & Professor, Political Science, Dyson College of Arts & Sciences, Pace University
Speakers:
Derek Mitchell, Former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar (Burma) (2012-2016); Senior Advisor (non-resident), Asia Program & Executive Office, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Office of the President
Joseph Chinyong Liow, Dean of College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
Ann Marie Murphy, Professor, Seton Hall University, Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
