A survey published on Tuesday by a Singapore-based think tank found that the US leadership under President Donald Trump was the top geopolitical concern for respondents in Southeast Asian countries, cited by 51.9%.
The finding demonstrated "anxiety about inconsistencies in policy and the credibility of long-term commitments," the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute said.
The survey, conducted from Jan 5 to Feb 20, also found that trust in the United States in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had declined from 47.2% last year to 44.0% this year.
The think tank's survey polled about 2,000 people from the private and public sectors in Southeast Asia as well as academics and researchers.
Japan remained the most trusted major power at 65.6%, followed by the European Union at 55.9%. The US was third.
Although trust in Japan slightly declined from last year, its "long-standing reputation as a responsible stakeholder that respects and upholds international law" remains the main reason for positive evaluations, the institute said.
China and the US, meanwhile, exchanged places when respondents were asked which one they would prefer as Asean's strategic partner if it were forced to choose, with 52.0% backing China, up 4.3 percentage points from last year. In 2025, the US had been chosen by 52.3%.
China was perceived as the most influential political power in Southeast Asia, chosen by 40.0%, followed by the US, at 29.9%.
On declining trust in the US, the institute said skepticism appears to be influenced by Washington's increasing political pressure in Latin America and the Middle East. For the question about the geopolitical concerns of member states of Asean, respondents from Singapore showed the highest concern about the US leadership, at 76.8%.
The city state relies heavily on trade with the US and has faced the impact of US tariffs. The second most concerning geopolitical event was global scam operations, chosen by 51.4%, followed by aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, at 48.2%.
