Can Southeast Asia turn its economic weight into real power?

With a combined gross domestic product of more than $ 3. 6 trillion dollars, it is the fifth-largest economy in the world.

11 states, which make up nearly 700 million people, are a part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN is a crucial partner for both China and the US because it has a rapid-growing hub for trade, manufacturing, and supply chains.

Donald Trump’s tariffs on some of its members have sparked concerns about whether Washington has turned its back on the area.

These are in response to Beijing’s repeated efforts to increase its influence.

Trump has also imposed sanctions on Russia’s oil companies.