KUALA LUMPUR: U.S. President Donald Trump once again commended Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership, calling Field Marshal Asim Munir “a good man” and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “a great leader” during his address at the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
Speaking to world leaders, President Trump referenced recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that Islamabad’s leadership acted swiftly to prevent escalation. “Reports suggested things could have gone very wrong, but Pakistan’s leadership chose peace,” he said.
Reiterating his foreign policy philosophy, Trump stated, “I believe in peace through trade. I’ve helped stop eight wars already not with weapons, but through economic cooperation.” He added, “America prefers commerce to conflict. I like stopping wars.”
The ASEAN Summit also saw a significant diplomatic breakthrough between Thailand and Cambodia. Under Trump’s watch, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet signed an enhanced ceasefire agreement in front of a banner reading ‘Delivering Peace’.
The new accord builds upon a truce reached three months earlier and aims to solidify peace along the two nations’ contested border regions.
“This agreement, if honored, will not only strengthen peace but also heal the rift between our people,” Hun Manet said. “For too long, our border communities have borne the brunt of conflict.”
President Trump, attending the ceremony before heading into high-level trade discussions, described the moment as “a strong example of diplomacy at work.”
