Southeast Asian nations will be closely listening to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's keynote address in Singapore for "indicators" of what they might expect from US President Donald Trump in the face of ongoing tensions in the region, experts say.
Mr Turnbull is set to arrive in Singapore in Thursday night for a three-day trip that will take in the Shangri La security summit on Friday.
The prime minister's speech will be significant for countries in the region struggling to gauge the "fickle nature" of American foreign policy and whether they can rely on the US to engage in ongoing security challenges, like tensions in the South China Sea, Australian National University defence and strategic expert Professor John Blaxland said.
"Most countries in Southeast Asia are very circumspect about being too supportive of the US, as they are not sure how committed the US is to staying the course," he told AAP.
Ahead of his visit to Australia, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis is also slated to address the summit, touching on how President Trump will engage with the region's current challenges.
The audience will be watching Mr Turnbull closely, Prof Blaxland added, as Australia serves as an "interesting indicator" on its close ally America.
"(Turnbull's speech will) influence their thinking about the degree of latitude they have from deviating from what they know China wants."
Among the topics expected to be discussed at the forum - which brings together defence ministers from countries including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines - are a rules-based order for the South China Sea, as well as what threat North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear program poses for the region.
Terrorism is also on the agenda as the Philippines government battles it out with Islamic State-affiliated militants in the southern city of Marawi, stoking fears it may become an extremist hub in the region.
A twin-suicide bomb attack in Jakarta last week that killed three police officers has also served as a reminder of the security threat in Indonesia.
Outside of the summit Mr Turnbull will be building on the strong defence and trade relationship with Singapore, meeting with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
In October last year, it was announced Singapore would be doubling its defence personnel training presence in Australia to up to 14,000 by 2021 and pumping in around $2 billion for upgrading two training facilities in Queensland.
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