Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends the ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in August, continuing American engagement in the region as the U.S. and ASEAN celebrate 40 years of working together on the shared goals of peace and prosperity.
ASEAN was created in August 1967 by five countries that wanted to work together to better address challenges in Southeast Asia. The group has grown to 10 countries, and as a bloc, ASEAN is the fourth-largest trading partner for the U.S.
This year, 2017, marks 50 years since ASEAN’s founding, and the United States partnered with the organization a decade after its formation, in 1977.
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to stay engaged in the region, which is important to the future of U.S. security and prosperity. President Trump will attend the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines this November.
A version of this story was published on May 7, 2017.