SINGAPORE, April 7 (Xinhua) -- About 52 percent of Southeast Asian respondents identified U.S. leadership under Donald Trump as their top geopolitical concern, followed closely by 51.4 percent citing global scam operations, an annual survey released on Tuesday showed.
Among those expecting ties with Washington to deteriorate, 38.5 percent said the United States should place greater emphasis on respecting international law and institutions, according to the State of Southeast Asia 2026 survey report by the ASEAN Studies Center at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
The survey involved 2,008 Southeast Asians. Climate change and extreme weather events were cited as the region's most pressing challenge, with 60 percent of respondents highlighting their growing economic and social impact.
On regional integration, respondents pointed mainly to domestic constraints. About 30.2 percent cited limited technocratic capacity, while 30.1 percent pointed to uneven economic development. Geopolitical pressures were flagged by 27.5 percent as a key impediment, while lack of political will was seen as the least significant barrier, at 12.1 percent.
"This year's survey underscores the growing complexity of Southeast Asia's strategic environment. The findings show a region navigating external pressures, internal constraints and shifting global dynamics with increasing caution," said Ng Chee Khern, director and chief executive officer of the institute. ■
