Kuala Lumpur, Oct 26 (UNI) : US President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit, launching a high-stakes diplomatic tour across Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea aimed at reshaping trade relations, reinforcing key alliances, and bolstering his image as a global dealmaker and peacemaker. The six-day visit marks the start of renewed U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific and will culminate in a much-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The trip comes at a moment of heightened economic tension between Washington and Beijing, as both nations ramp up tariffs and compete for global influence.
Trump will join a signing ceremony for a peace pact between Thailand and Cambodia—a deal he claims to have personally brokered.
Trump is expected to hold bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and participate in sessions addressing trade, security, and peacebuilding efforts in the Indo-Pacific.
The US president will also attend a working dinner with ASEAN leaders. “I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. To accommodate everyone for this major event, we will sign the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival,” Trump added.
The peace accord — which Trump is set to witness alongside leaders of Cambodia and Thailand — aims to formally end a long-standing border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations. The conflict flared up in July 2025, leading to several days of cross-border clashes, casualties, and displacement of civilians on both sides.
Following Malaysia’s mediation, a ceasefire was reached in late July, with ASEAN observers monitoring compliance. Progress continued earlier this week when the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary (JBC) met in Chanthaburi on October 21–22, agreeing to expedite the demarcation process. Both sides tasked the Joint Technical Survey Committee (JTSC) with replacing 15 boundary pillars at mutually agreed locations, according to Malaysian and regional media reports.
Trump’s diplomatic tour is mainly focused on economic statecraft. The president is expected to push Asian allies on trade imbalances, defense spending, and cooperation on global security, while seeking new agreements to bolster US industries.
But Trump’s protectionist trade policies and unpredictable foreign policy moves have stirred unease among traditional US allies.
The world will be watching closely as President Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Seoul, a potential turning point in the tense relationship between Washington and Beijing. Trade disputes, China’s curbs on rare earth mineral exports, and Trump’s threat to impose tariffs of up to 130 percent on Chinese goods have reignited economic friction between the two powers.
Discussions may also include areas like TikTok, fentanyl, and soybeans.
Trump has also signaled plans to raise the Ukraine war with Xi, saying he believes the Chinese leader “can have a big influence on Putin.”
Trump will meet newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader. A staunch conservative, Takaichi shares the late Shinzo Abe’s ambition to revise Japan’s pacifist Constitution and deepen defense cooperation with Washington.
Trump is expected to highlight Japan’s USD 550 billion investment pledge in the US.
Trump will hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Trade, security, and regional stability are expected to dominate discussions following recent North Korean missile tests. The agenda may also include US immigration raids that affected South Korean workers and delays in a new trade deal worth USD 350 billion in investments.
