New American Ambassador to Asean a Sign of Growing Ties

Jakarta Globe, Ismira Lutfia, April 27, 2011

US Ambassador to Asean David Lee Carden, left, shaking hands with Asean
Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Carden on Tuesday officially became the first US representative to the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, in a move seen as underlining the regional bloc’s growing
importance to the United States. (AFP Photo)

Related articles

• Marty Says Excluding East Timor From Asean 'Unnatural'
• Indonesia Urges ASEAN to Extend Help to Japan
• Southeast Asian Stock Markets to Link Up, Promote Asean Brand
• Inflation May Threaten Global Recovery: SBY
• SBY Calls for Stronger Economic Ties Among Asean Members

David Lee Carden on Tuesday officially became the first US representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in a move seen as underlining the regional bloc’s growing importance to the United States.

Carden presented his credentials to Surin Pitsuwan, the Asean secretary general. With the appointment, the United States now has two ambassadors in Jakarta, which hosts the Asean Secretariat. The other is Scot Marciel, the US ambassador to Indonesia.

“It’s wonderful to be here when Indonesia is the chair of Asean, which is going to move forward under Indonesia’s chairmanship and it is doing so now,” Carden told reporters after his meeting with Surin at the Asean Secretariat.

A former attorney, Carden was sworn in as the United States’ representatives to Asean by President Barack Obama on March 29.

“The Asean Charter is something that all of us can expect that Asean will accomplish over the years and I want to do everything that I can help in that regard,” Carden said.

The charter, which was adopted in 2007, lays out the principles of the bloc, and also calls for the establishment of a regional free-trade zone.

In June 2010, the United States became the first non-Asean country to establish a dedicated mission to the regional grouping. It is the second Asean dialogue partner after Japan to send a resident ambassador to Jakarta exclusively to oversee relations with the bloc.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Asean Secretariat on her first overseas trip in the position, in February 2009. It was the first time an American secretary of state had visited the secretariat.

“Proactive re-engagement of the US with Asean has reinvigorated Asean-US relations,” Surin said in a statement. “The historic Asean-US leaders’ meetings reflect the US’ recognition of Asean’s growing role in global issues. I am looking forward to working with Ambassador Carden to maintain this momentum.

Danilo Arana Arao, a journalism assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, told the Jakarta Globe that Asean had to be careful that it benefitted from Carden’s appointment.

“There has to be a concession in such a way that Asean will benefit more because the US has the history of exploiting certain territory just for its own benefit,” Arao said.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is gearing up for heightened security ahead of the 18th Asean Summit, scheduled to be held in Jakarta on May 4-8.

In an inspection of the forces that will help secure visiting dignitaries during the summit, the TNI’s chief of the general staff, Lt. Gen. Surjo Prabowo, said the security effort would also include the Jakarta Police and canine squads.

In a display of their readiness on Tuesday, soldiers gave a display of riot handling and evacuating dignitaries from high-rise buildings.

“We are organizing drills that might mirror actual situations so that there won’t be any doubts about the readiness of the security forces to take action to protect the VVIPs, even if that involves serving as human shields for them,” Surjo said.