Kuala Lumpur: U.S. President Donald Trump emerged as the central figure at this year’s ASEAN Summit, capturing the spotlight during a group photo with regional leaders and asserting Washington’s renewed ambition to shape Southeast Asia’s diplomatic and economic landscape. Standing prominently between Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Trump’s presence symbolized a concerted American effort to reclaim influence in a region where China’s dominance has long gone unchallenged. Yet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conspicuous absence from the photo session, after having earlier co-signed a peace declaration with Cambodia under Trump’s mediation, underscored the complexity and sensitivity of regional diplomacy.
Anutin’s absence followed the death of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit on Saturday, prompting the prime minister to return home after participating in the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. His office confirmed that he had attended the peace deal’s conclusion but had to forgo the remaining ASEAN engagements to oversee national mourning arrangements. Despite his absence, the significance of the agreement he helped broker alongside Trump and Hun Manet continued to reverberate across the summit halls.
Earlier in the day, Trump had announced with much fanfare the signing of what he called a “peace treaty” between Cambodia and Thailand though the document itself, formally titled “Joint Declaration by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” fell short of treaty status in international legal terms. According to the United Nations, a declaration reflects shared aspirations rather than binding obligations, distinguishing it from treaties governed by international law. Nonetheless, the declaration marked a meaningful breakthrough in de-escalating tensions between the two neighbors following five days of border fighting in July that left dozens dead and displaced more than 200,000 civilians.
The declaration outlines several vital measures, including a commitment to continue de-escalation, the removal of heavy weaponry from contested areas, and a joint de-mining initiative along the heavily militarized Thai-Cambodian border. It also calls for the prompt release of Cambodian prisoners of war and the establishment of a Southeast Asian observer team to monitor the implementation of peace commitments. Trump hailed the accord as “a historic step toward lasting peace,” though Thai diplomats carefully described it as a reaffirmation of the July ceasefire, cautioning that its success depends on sustained cooperation and political will. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed confidence that both sides would “fully and faithfully implement the declaration,” while Anutin characterized it as a “concrete step toward peace” that requires mutual trust and careful adherence to the agreed framework.
As diplomatic discussions unfolded, the United States advanced another strategic pillar of its regional outreach the announcement of two new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia. The White House confirmed that both pacts would provide U.S. investors with access to critical minerals, while also promoting cooperation in energy, transportation, telecommunications, and digital trade. The agreement with Cambodia guarantees fair treatment for U.S. investors and enforces strong labor and environmental standards, while Malaysia’s pact is designed to address the long-standing U.S. trade deficit through tariff adjustments and enhanced technology and services collaboration.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized that critical minerals were now indispensable to global manufacturing and technology sectors. “We live in a world where having these critical minerals is essential for our manufacturing, our technology, and our economy,” Greer remarked. “It’s vital that we cooperate as willing partners to ensure secure supply chains for the prosperity of our people and the stability of our economies.” His comments reflected Washington’s broader objective to reduce reliance on China, which currently dominates more than 90 percent of global refined rare earth production.
Trump’s Asia tour, which began in Kuala Lumpur, comes amid an escalating economic rivalry between Washington and Beijing. By securing new mineral access and positioning himself as a mediator in regional conflicts, Trump appears determined to reinforce the United States’ relevance in Southeast Asia. He repeated his promise that America would achieve “an abundance of critical minerals within a year,” a claim many analysts regard with skepticism, but one that resonates politically as he pursues economic security through resource diversification.
Sunday’s events, spanning diplomacy, commerce, and symbolic gestures, encapsulated Washington’s dual-track strategy in Asia fostering stability while expanding economic leverage. The Cambodia Thailand declaration, though non-binding, represents a significant move toward reconciliation, and the new trade accords reflect a deliberate effort to anchor U.S. influence in the region’s economic architecture. As Trump took center stage in the ASEAN leaders’ photo, flanked by two key Southeast Asian leaders, the image captured more than a moment it projected a message of renewed American engagement and the ongoing redefinition of power dynamics in a region standing at the crossroads of peace and competition.