It is not just Singaporeans who will be watching PM Lee’s visit to the US closely.

It is ironic that President Trump’s rhetoric of America First and Make America Great Again may have given Southeast Asian leaders cause for concern that an isolationist U.S. foreign policy is in the dawn.

Nevertheless, apart from withdrawing from the TPP in the first week of Trump’s presidency, the Trump Administration has not taken action that hints at a reversal from Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia.

PM Lee’s timely visit to Washington is an opportunity to provide a voice for the logic and imperative of a strong U.S. commitment to this region, and enhance Singapore’s partnerships with the U.S.

… Daniel Chua Wei Boon is assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of Singapore and is author of the newly published book, U.S.-Singapore Relations, 1965-1975: Strategic non-alignment in the Cold War.