During a whirlwind 24-hour visit to Kuala Lumpur, US President Donald Trump capped off a series of significant developments that, according to the White House, brought “peace and prosperity” to the Southeast Asian region. While much of the media attention now shifts to Trump’s upcoming meetings in Japan and South Korea—including a highly anticipated summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping—his presence at the ASEAN Summit marked a pivotal moment for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) itself. The event gave the regional bloc its largest platform in years, at a time when many observers have questioned ASEAN’s relevance in addressing critical regional challenges.
For President Trump, the main highlight was overseeing the signing of what was described as a “peace deal” between Thailand and Cambodia, ending a long-standing border dispute that had escalated into open conflict just a few months earlier in July. Trump appeared keen to add this diplomatic achievement to his record, seemingly as part of his ongoing pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize for resolving conflicts. However, it is important to note that Thai officials were reluctant to label the agreement a formal “peace deal.” Still, the resolution represented a rare diplomatic success for ASEAN, whose chair this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, played a crucial role in brokering the initial ceasefire between the two nations.
Anwar’s involvement was significant; a seasoned politician, he was able to leverage his longstanding relationships with both Cambodia and Thailand. His diplomatic skill extended to charming Trump, even managing to make a lighthearted joke involving the sensitive topic of jail time—an extraordinary feat given Trump’s often guarded demeanor. Yet, despite Anwar’s finesse, it was ultimately the economic pressure exerted by the United States that catalyzed the ceasefire. Following Trump’s threats of economic consequences, both Thailand and Cambodia quickly agreed to halt hostilities, underscoring the leverage that economic ties to the US continue to hold in the region.
The signing ceremony on Sunday was not just about peace. It was accompanied by announcements of new US trade deals with Cambodia and Thailand, an indication of Trump’s strategy to use business agreements as a lever to encourage peace and stability. For many ASEAN leaders, the real benefit of Trump’s appearance was the opportunity for face time with the US president amid ongoing tariff negotiations. Many ASEAN economies are heavily export-dependent, with the US serving as a key market. Alongside Thailand and Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam also secured trade agreements with the US. While these deals did not result in immediate tariff reductions, the countries managed to negotiate exemptions on certain goods, signaling incremental progress in complex trade talks.
Joseph Liow, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, commented that Trump’s visit was largely a “photo op” that added another “feather in his cap.” However, Liow also acknowledged that ASEAN leaders attempted to capitalize on the president’s presence by broadening his understanding of the shared interests between the US and Asia. This pragmatic approach illustrated how regional leaders sought to extract value from the visit despite its largely symbolic nature.
Founded in 1967 initially as a bulwark against communism, ASEAN today functions primarily as a platform for diplomatic dialogue and trade negotiations. Its main strength lies in its ability to gather leaders of larger countries in a single forum, providing an efficient means for engaging with the region as a whole. This year’s summit saw participation not only from Trump but also leaders from China, the European Council, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa, reflecting ASEAN’s importance on the global stage.
Over the decades, ASEAN has achieved notable economic milestones, including fostering greater regional integration and securing free trade agreements with major world powers. Yet, its effectiveness in tackling pressing regional problems has increasingly come under scrutiny. Challenges such as air pollution from Indonesian forest fires and unresolved maritime disputes in the South China Sea remain sources of tension. Perhaps most glaring is ASEAN’s failure to resolve the civil war in Myanmar, which erupted in 2021 and has persisted despite repeated calls from the bloc for peace.
At this year’s summit, ASEAN once again urged Myanmar’s military junta to halt the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution. The junta, however, has largely ignored these appeals over the past four years. The group also responded cautiously to the junta’s invitation to observe Myanmar’s upcoming general election in December, emphasizing the importance of “free and fair” elections and the cessation of violence as necessary preconditions. This tempered response demonstrated the limits of ASEAN’s influence.
One reason for