WEB DESK: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Malaysia on October 26, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan. He expressed optimism about witnessing a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during the trip.
Tensions along certain undemarcated areas of the 817-km (508-mile) Thai-Cambodian land border escalated into a violent five-day clash this past July, resulting in at least 48 fatalities and temporary displacement of hundreds of thousands a severe conflict not seen in over a decade.
At the ASEAN summit, which is set to take place from October 26 to October 28 in Kuala Lumpur, there is hope for the signing of a peace declaration, referred to as the Kuala Lumpur Accord. This initiative aims to secure a lasting ceasefire between the two nations, Mohamad explained during a press briefing.
President Trump reportedly anticipates observing this historic agreement, though details about how his interest was communicated remain unclear.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs ASEAN, has stated that Trump is expected to be present, though formal confirmation from Washington is still pending.
A source familiar with the situation mentioned that planning for the trip is underway, while the White House has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the visit.
In other developments related to the ASEAN summit, Mohamad stated that the upcoming East Asia Summit would release a chairman’s statement rather than a joint declaration. He explained this shift was due to objections raised by the United States towards the use of the term “inclusivity,” though no additional details were provided.
The summit is expected to host leaders from all 10 ASEAN member states along with key trading partners such as China, Japan, Russia, and the United States.
