U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, joined a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers in urging President Joe Biden to nominate someone to serve as the Ambassador of the United States to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“Filling this important position — which has been vacant since January 2017 — would enhance our ability to effectively work with ASEAN to further our shared interests in the region and beyond,” wrote Rep. Wagner and her colleagues in a Dec. 16 letter sent to Biden.
U.S. Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), chair and ranking member, respectively, of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), who co-chairs the caucus with Rep. Wagner, also signed the letter.
The lawmakers pointed out that the 10 ASEAN nations are home to more than 662 million people and have a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion. The region’s economic vibrancy, strategic location, and demographic diversity all make it a critical partner for the United States, according to their letter.
“As members of Congress committed to advancing U.S. relationships with our Southeast Asian partners, we appreciate your administration’s continued prioritization of the region and the numerous high-level visits from U.S. officials since you took office,” the members wrote. “As your administration continues to make progress on filling vacant ambassadorships, it is imperative that the United States harness the growing momentum in our relationship with Southeast Asia by naming an ambassador to ASEAN.”
Rep. Wagner and her colleagues noted that many of the pressing challenges currently facing the U.S. require solutions that draw on multilateral organizations like ASEAN.
“Naming an ambassador will be crucial for our efforts to further cooperate with the group on our many shared priorities, including countering COVID-19, strengthening trade and investment ties, enhancing regional security, and addressing environmental challenges,” they wrote.