For years, engaging the United States was seen as a way for Southeast Asia to secure stability and economic opportunity. But that assumption is now being tested. With tariffs, shifting alliances and a more unpredictable foreign policy under President Donald Trump, countries in the region are starting to reassess what engagement with Washington really means.

In this episode of Morning Shot, we speak to Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the US Programme at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, to unpack why Southeast Asia’s approach may be shifting from pragmatic cooperation to something more defensive and what that could mean for the future of US–ASEAN relations.