Trump's comeback: Outlook for Singapore and Asean

Given what is known from Trump's first term, conditions look more favourable for Singapore than Asean.

- Tommy Koh

Once every four years, the world holds its breath when the American people go to the polls to elect their president, vice-president, senators, congressmen, governors and other officials. It does so because what happens in America will affect it in one way or another.

The 2024 elections were full of drama and unexpected twists and turns. The Democratic Party's candidate, President Joe Biden, stepped aside in favour of his Vice-President Kamala Harris after a disastrous debate with the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Although Ms Harris campaigned brilliantly, it would appear that America is not ready yet to elect as president a woman of mixed South Asian-black heritage.

Prior to the election, many analyses went into former president Trump's "America First" instincts and how that could affect US relations with other countries. Now that it is clear that from January 2025, he will return to the White House for another four-year term, what are the implications for Singapore and, more broadly, Asean?