Rubio Joins Menendez, Risch, and Colleagues in Calling for U.S. to Prioritize Democracy, Human Rights at ASEAN Summit

Press Release

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden calling for democracy, good governance, and human rights to be top priorities in the upcoming U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Leaders Summit. In light of recent trends toward democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia, the senators emphasized their concern that, if left unaddressed, developing dynamics in the region could undermine the United States' efforts to work with partners to build a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"We strongly support your Administration's hosting this gathering, and believe that strengthening and deepening U.S. engagement with ASEAN and working with our ASEAN partners to build functional problem-solving regional architecture are essential for the success of the larger Indo-Pacific strategy," the senators wrote. "Indeed, as your Administration seeks to build a "Year of Action' to turn commitments from the Summit for Democracy into concrete results that shore up democracies around the world -- notably pushing back against the illusory appeal of authoritarianism, defending and promoting respect for human rights, and combating corruption -- the U.S.-ASEAN Summit provides an important opportunity to demonstrate in tangible ways that our aspirations carry with them real and demonstrable policy action."

To that end, the senators also requested a consultation between their offices and appropriate Administration officials at the earliest possible time to discuss planning and proposed activities at the Summit.

Rubio is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Risch and Menendez are Ranking Member and Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Source