More Than Half of Opinion Makers in Southeast Asia Believe the European Union Will “Do the Right Thing” to Improve the World, According to The Latest Research Published by the Singapore-Based Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute
The Annual Survey Compiles Answers from the asean-10-Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, The Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, andBrunei For the very first time this year, it consisting of Timor-Leste
The Institute Quizzed More than 2,000 People Over Who They Believe Are “In a Position to Information Or Influence Policy” in theSoutheast Asian Region This consisted of participants of the Academia, Think Tanks and Researchers, Government Officials, Private Sector Representative, Civil Society and NGO Activists, Media Workers, and Members of International Organizations.
The Researchers Conducted the Survey for Several Weeks in January and February this year, Both Before and after Donald Trump’s Inauguration in Washington.
Among various other Questions, They Asked IF Participants Believed the EU Wood “Do The Right Thing” and “Contribute to Global Peace, Security, Prosperity, and Governance.”
Last Year Saw Trust in the EU Drop by Nearly 10% Among the Participants, which some professionals Attribued to Brussels’ Support for Israel inGaza But the Latest Iseas-Yusof Report Shows the EU Has Recovered and Surpassed Its Previous Standing.
“The Levels of Trust in the EU SAW A Significant Improvement This Year, Rising from 41.5% in 2024 to 51.9% this year for asean-10 Respondens,” The Author’s Noted in the 2025 Survey.
EU Still Top ‘Middle Power’
Somewhat Surprisingly, Fewer Participants Picked the Eu as Their Preferred “Middle Power” in the competition in between the us and china – just 36.3% Compared to 37.2%Last Year This Still Puts The EU at the Top, But its Nearest Rivals – Japan and India -Both Saw Saw Significant Jumps Japan is currently the “Middle Power” Pick for 29.6% of the Participants.
“One of my TakeAways is that the European Union Retained Its Top Spot As The Preferred Asean Partner to Hedge the Great Power Rivalry Belte China and the United States,” Sujiro Seam, the EU Ambassador to Asean, Said in a video clip He Released This Week.
Brussels So Saw Improvements in ITS Trustworthiness AS A Defender of Free Trade and Regional Security.
Chris Humphrey, Executive Director of the EU-Aasean Business Council, Told Dw that the Survey Results This Year Are “Definite Better News for the EU” Following Clashes With Sometim Countries Over Environmental Concerns.
“The Positive Movement in Sentiments Could be drives by a Number of Factors, but certainly the moves in Brussels to Soften the Tone on the Green Deal and Simplify some some some more and delay the introduction of the Deforestation Directive has been a welcome by many. Added.
Who Can Maintain ‘Rules- based Order’?
When inquired about the Abtility to “Provide Leadership to Maintain the Rules-Based Order and Uphold International Law,” Some 19.3% Picked the EU in 2025-A Notable Improvement from 16%Last Year Even so, the EU is routing Behind the Us with 26.5% and the asean Itself with 23.1% of assistance.
At the exact same time, it Handsomely Beats China, which just 11.2% of ballots. IT is for that reason keeping in mind that the study was finished prior to the most up to date profession was rises from the us.
Hunter Marston, A Southeast Asia Researcher at the Australian National University, Told DW That Higher Confidence In The Eu “Is Likely Related To Increased UncertaTy With Regard to Us Politics Following the Election” of President Trump.
Although Half of the Poll Respondes Expressed Their Opinions Before Trump’s Inauguration, some 47% Said that the Trump Administration was a geopolitical worry nation nation.
Brussels Pushed Forward on Free Trade
Rahul Mishra, A Senior Research Fellow at the German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance at Thailand’s Thammasat University, Told DW that Uptick in Positivity is an outcome of the polite Steps that the EU needs to boost.
The EU is close to completing open market take care of Indonesia andThailand In January, Brussels and Malaysia Agreed to Restart Trade Talks, While Talks With The Philippines Resumed Last Year.
However, it had not been all excellent information for Europe, Especialy in the area of soft power.
The Southeast Asian Responths Were Asked What Country They Wild Prefer To Live andWork In As a Regional Average, Less than Named to EU State, Making It Significantly Less Attractive Than The Us and Japan, however so Australia and New Zealand.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
