WASHINGTON - THE United States will cap a year of markedly increased engagement with Asean with the first-ever leaders' summit next Sunday.

But it is as yet unclear if the US-Asean summit will become an annual affair, and analysts cautioned against high expectations.

'Don't hold your breath for big home runs coming out of that meeting,' said Mr Ernest Bower, a South-east Asian expert with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

'I don't think there will be significant new statements about new money or new training. Being there is what's important this year.'

The Obama administration has indeed backed up its 'we are back' message to the neglected region with several high-profile visits in recent months.

Indonesia was one of the stops when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Asia as part of her first foreign trip in February. She also visited the Asean Secretariat when she was in Jakarta, the first top-ranking US diplomat to do so.

Chua Chin Hon

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.