The article is devoted to studying the process of theoretical development and practical implementation of the plan for integrating the region of South and Southeast Asia into the U. S. strategy for restoring world trade, which is called the «Marshall plan for Asia» or AFAP. The Eisenhower administration’s desire to use the Cold War context to secure funding for the program from the U. S. Congress is emphasized. The reasons for the failure of the plan are analyzed, related to the contradictions between the countries of the region under consideration, as well as their fears of losing bilateral assistance from the United States.