Security is likely to take priority over trade tensions in a second Trump administration.

President-elect Donald Trump’s Asia policy emphasizes security concerns and a tougher stance on China while criticizing key regional partners and prioritizing trade imbalances.

Asia’s 2024 election wave fell short of advancing democracy, with autocratic regimes manipulating votes and even established democracies facing political challenges.

With the developing world’s growing use of costly and opaque “payday loans” from China’s central bank, the IMF and World Bank need to demand far greater transparency from Beijing. 

Southeast Asian leaders are adept at dealing with President-elect Trump’s transactional style of diplomacy, but an escalating U.S.-China conflict would severely harm the region.

Although India has developed a strong relationship with President-elect Trump, other South Asian countries may struggle to gain a hearing in his second term.

Governments across Southeast and South Asia have sought to restrain freedom of expression on online platforms.

The United States’ influence in Southeast Asia is waning as China strengthens its position.