Jake Sanders, Editor
Kuala Lumpur
As U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Malaysia, attention is turning to an upcoming ceremony that appears to be centered on his participation.Thailand and Cambodia are preparing to sign a peace agreement during the event—an initiative that actually has no serious involvement from Trump besides a few phone calls. The two countries seem to be allowing Trump to be in the spotlight, hoping it might lead to future rewards,trade deals or lower tariffs.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had delayed his departure to the ASEAN summit yesterday following the death of the Queen Mother. However, he emphasized his desire to attend the peace deal ceremony with Cambodia, which will feature star witness Trump. Anutin told reporters that he canceled his initial trip yesterday and asked for the peace agreement to be rescheduled for today instead.
This ceremony does not actually include any resolution to the longstanding border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. Nonetheless, under pressure to show progress and appease President Trump, the two countries are reportedly working to de-escalate military tensions along their border. Both nations aim to avoid offending Trump, especially after his recent threats in July to end trade negotiations.
Other ASEAN members hope Trump’s brief presence will help bolster relations with the United States. The region’s export-dependent economies have faced a turbulent year, hurt by tariffs and trade tensions. Despite these challenges, exports from ASEAN countries to the U.S. have doubled since Trump’s last visit to the ASEAN summit in 2017.
Once Trump’s visit concludes, regional leaders are expected to resume their usual diplomatic efforts—small, incremental steps toward regional integration.Meanwhile, a major issue remains off the agenda: the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. Since the 2021 military coup, this crisis has cast a shadow over ASEAN meetings, but it continues to receive little direct attention from Trump or other international leaders.
