Biden Pledges $102 Million to Southeast Asian Nations for Pandemic Relief and Climate Action

President Joe Biden on Oct. 26 pledged $102 million for COVID-19 relief, climate action, education and economic support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Biden, who joined the association’s virtual summit on Tuesday, told ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and leaders from nine of 10 member states, that the partnership is “essential” to the architecture of the Indo-Pacific region. “You can expect to see me personally showing up and reaching out to you,” Biden said at the start of the meeting. “You can expect to see the United States deepening our long-standing cooperation pursuing new avenues of ministerial dialogue, investing in our countries and driving inclusive prosperity in the region.” The U.S. has invested $3.5 billion to support public health in ASEAN over the past 20 years, according to the White House. Burmese military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power through a military …