Tokyo: U.S. President Donald Trump departed Kuala Lumpur on Monday morning after concluding a high-profile visit to Malaysia the first stop of his ongoing three-nation Asia tour. The president’s departure followed a weekend of intense diplomacy that included the signing of a peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, major trade and rare-earth agreements, and fresh talks with Chinese officials ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Trump was greeted by a cheering crowd waving American and Malaysian flags as he boarded Air Force One at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Unlike his energetic arrival ceremony days earlier, the president kept the farewell subdued, exchanging brief waves before taking off for Tokyo, the next stop on his six-day regional tour.
During his stay, Trump highlighted what he called “a series of remarkable diplomatic breakthroughs.” Writing on Truth Social shortly before departure, he declared, “Just leaving Malaysia, a great and very vibrant Country. Signed major Trade and Rare Earth Deals, and yesterday, most importantly, signed the Peace Treaty between Thailand and Cambodia.”
Though officially described as a “peace declaration” rather than a treaty, the document was hailed as a step toward ending long-standing border tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. Trump called it “an honor” and added, “NO WAR! Millions of lives saved.”
Parallel to the peace declaration, senior U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators met in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend to finalize a framework for a trade deal, a breakthrough that could avert a steep 157% tariff hike on Chinese goods. The development comes ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping later this week in South Korea, where both leaders are expected to formalize the framework into a comprehensive agreement.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking from Malaysia, said the framework would “avert unnecessary tariff escalation” and potentially include a U.S. deferral on China’s rare-earth export controls, a key issue in recent trade tensions.
Even as Trump’s Asia diplomacy unfolded, he took time to congratulate Argentine President Javier Milei on his resounding midterm election victory, reaffirming strong U.S. Argentina relations.
“Congratulations to President Javier Milei on his Landslide Victory in Argentina. He is doing a wonderful job! Our confidence in him was justified by the People of Argentina,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier this month, Washington extended a $20 billion bailout to Buenos Aires through a currency swap arrangement aimed at stabilizing Argentina’s fragile economy. However, Trump emphasized that continued support is contingent on Milei’s leadership and economic reforms signaling both solidarity and strategic caution in Washington’s Latin American policy.
Following his Malaysian stop, Trump’s Air Force One is en route to Tokyo, where he will meet Japan’s Emperor and the country’s newly elected conservative Prime Minister. The visit is expected to focus on regional defense cooperation, economic partnerships, and joint Indo-Pacific initiatives, as the U.S. seeks to strengthen alliances amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Trump’s Asia trip encompassing Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea is shaping up as one of the most consequential foreign missions of his presidency, blending trade negotiations, peace efforts, and alliance-building. The visit has already yielded significant headlines: the Thailand Cambodia peace declaration, the U.S. China trade deal framework, and the reaffirmation of ties with Argentina’s Milei.
As Air Force One touched the skies toward Tokyo, Trump’s message remained characteristically upbeat: “A great trip, tremendous results trade, peace, and prosperity. Now, off to Japan!!!”