Abstract
The period from the beginning of the Bush administration in January 2001 to the president’s October 2003 visit to four countries in Southeast Asia1 marks a distinctive phase in U.S.-Southeast Asia relations. Both the U.S. and Southeast Asia were adroit in “minding the gaps” in relations for reasons that do not address fundamental questions regarding views or interests towards each other. First, early Bush administration approaches to foreign and security policy were adjusted as reflected in the new National Security Strategy. Second, the U.S. war on terrorism cast a new importance to terrorism in Southeast Asia. Third, Southeast Asian countries, confronted with terrorism, and desirous of maximizing opportunities from constructive relations with the U.S., sought to buttress ties with Washington. This pragmatic response on both sides to the post-September 11 environment led to the minding of gaps, rather than any rethinking on the part of the U.S. or Southeast Asian countries. While such a mutual approach in relations maximizes near- and mid-term cooperation, it leaves open to question longer-term trends in U.S.-Southeast Asia relations and the broader Asia-Pacific security environment.
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