US President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to attend the ASEAN Summit, where his first major task was overseeing the signing of an expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. The deal follows his earlier mediation in July, which ended a deadly five-day border conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. Trump hailed the agreement as a step toward lasting regional stability, crediting diplomacy and economic dialogue for transforming tensions into cooperation.
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The new accord builds on a truce reached three months ago after Trump personally called the leaders of both countries, warning that failure to end hostilities could affect their trade talks with Washington. The earlier clashes, involving rockets and heavy artillery, claimed at least 48 lives and displaced more than 300,000 civilians, making it the worst border violence in years. The agreement is expected to pave the way for joint border patrols and reconstruction efforts in affected areas.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul nearly missed the ceremony following the passing of Queen Mother Sirikit but decided to attend the summit after consultations with senior cabinet members. Trump was warmly received by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. In a lighthearted moment, Trump joined a troupe of local dancers before waving both US and Malaysian flags, symbolizing the spirit of friendship and unity among ASEAN members.
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Alongside peace discussions, Trump’s delegation is leading key trade negotiations aimed at easing tensions between the United States and China. Talks between trade representatives from both sides resumed on Saturday, focusing on tariff reductions and rare earth exports. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed optimism, saying progress had been made toward “a productive meeting between the leaders.” Trump is also expected to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss Washington’s 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods, which Lula described as a “serious trade imbalance.”
In a historic milestone for the region, East Timor was officially welcomed as the 11th member of the ASEAN bloc during the summit. The small nation of 1.4 million people, also known as Timor-Leste, joins after a 14-year wait for membership approval. Its leaders, President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, called the accession a fulfillment of a long-held national dream. Though its $2 billion economy is modest compared to ASEAN’s $3.8 trillion GDP, East Timor’s inclusion symbolizes ASEAN’s commitment to inclusivity and regional solidarity.