logo
Trump's ostensible five conditions for visiting Malaysia in October 2025 — Phar Kim Beng

Trump's ostensible five conditions for visiting Malaysia in October 2025 — Phar Kim Beng

Malay Mail16-07-2025
JULY 16 — If diplomacy is akin to dexterous manoeuvres, then President Donald J. Trump is both the creative director and the post-modern impresario.
One who demands the stage be set before he even enters the theatre that is Asean and East Asian.
With the Asean and East Asian Summits scheduled for October 25 to 26 in Kuala Lumpur, speculation is mounting: will Trump show up?
The answer, it seems, depends entirely on whether Asean is prepared to meet what are now widely viewed as Trump's ostensible five conditions. These demands are not just about North Korea; they reflect Trump's worldview — coercive, hierarchical, and intensely performative.
One of Trump's key expectations is that Asean formally designates North Korea as a serious regional and strategic threat. He is no longer content with Asean's customary diplomatic expressions of concern. asean is too staid.
He wants the language sharpened, the tone unequivocal, and the verdict clear: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is not just a problem — it is the problem. Such a public rebuke would send a powerful message to both Pyongyang and Moscow.
For Trump, this would be a strategic framing victory, reinforcing his belief that leadership means forcing clarity into ambiguity, even at the expense of consensus.
Another precondition is that Asean aligns itself with US efforts to restore the relevance of the International Atomic Energy Agency in its dealings with North Korea.
In a self-serving manner, Trump wants to resuscitate the IAEA's investigative clout—not in Vienna or Geneva, but in the Korean Peninsula, through Asean and East Asian Summit.
Russia is, after all, a member of East Asian Summit too. As is the US.
In Trump's second term, multilateralism is welcomed only when it operates under American primacy. Here, Asean is expected to echo Washington's call for full, verifiable inspections, even if it risks alienating member states who prefer the status quo of quiet diplomacy.
At the heart of Trump's nuclear agenda is a warning he believes Chairman Kim Jong Un must understand that deeply buried nuclear facilities in North Korea are not beyond reach. Iran has had a foretaste of American power when in the words of Trump, "Iran nuclear facilities were obliterated."
Although doubts linger if the bunker buster bombs had indeed got the job done at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran, this does not prevent Trump from wanting to deliver the same message to Chairman Kim Jong Un via ASEAN and East Asian Summit.
The United States wants to reinforce the image that it continues to possess Bunker Buster Bombs capable of penetrating fortified subterranean sites. Hence, North Korea is now in the sight of Trump. Asean and East Asian Summit have to up its ante to match Trump.
If diplomacy is akin to dexterous manoeuvres, then President Donald J. Trump is both the creative director and the post-modern impresario. — Reuters pic
Trump views the successful prevention of open war between Israel and Iran during his second term as evidence of his coercive deterrence strategy. He does not mind showing this brand of diplomacy to North Korea via Asean and East Asian Summit.
He expects Kim Jong-un to comprehend the credibility of that deterrent. In turn, Chairman Kim is likely to push back with his own narrative: that unlike Iran, which has been portrayed as a nuclear threshold or breakout state, North Korea is already a full-fledged nuclear weapons state.
He will emphasise that its deterrent is real, deliverable, and not easily dismantled. The contrast with Iran — whose nuclear programme has suffered setbacks through sabotage, sanctions, and cyber interference — will form the core of North Korea's argument that it cannot and will not be treated the same.
Yet Trump's expectations go beyond military strategy. He is demanding that Asean exert influence to halt North Korea's covert support for Russia's war in Ukraine. This condition stretches Asean's diplomatic imagination.
For a regional bloc that prefers balancing over band wagoning, the idea of confronting Pyongyang over its links to Moscow's artillery logistics is both unprecedented and uncomfortable.
Still, Trump insists that this war, fought in Europe, has reverberations in Asia — and that Asean's silence would equate to complicity.
Equally important to Trump is his desire for a diplomatic spectacle: a sidebar meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un in Kuala Lumpur; provided the latter is willing to come to Kuala Lumpur as he once did to Singapore and Hanoi.
Trump views such encounters not merely as dialogues but as geopolitical theatre, validating his theory of leader-to-leader deal-making; even if they failed. The key is Trump's muscular foreign policy to match North Korea's Sparta-like approach.
Kuala Lumpur or otherwise, the setting is less important than the optics. Trump believes that in bypassing conventional diplomatic channels, breakthroughs become possible. Asean's role here is to act as discreet facilitator, a stagehand behind the curtain.
But even in facilitating such a meeting, Asean risks becoming complicit in a heavily personalized diplomacy that often sidelines collective norms. Especially when Malaysia is the Chief Coordinator of Asean China relations 2025.
Perhaps most controversially, Trump expects Asean to ensure that its Northeast Asian partners, namely Japan and South Korea, refrain from using the summit to criticize his escalating tariff regimes. In Trump's view, the East Asia Summit is no place for complaints about American protectionism.
He wants a disciplined forum — one that does not devolve into lectures on economic multilateralism.
For Asean, this means managing not only its own internal cohesion but the external optics of alliance politics. The price of Trump's presence may well be the silencing of dissent, at least in public view.
The art of the possible, or the price of admission?
Trump's ostensible five conditions are not unachievable — but meeting all of them would require Asean to surrender elements of its foundational ethos.
Non-alignment, non-interference, and regional consensus may all be strained under the weight of Trump's coercive choreography.
Still, this moment also reveals how Trump views Asean: not as an equal partner in shaping global affairs, but as a pliable platform for amplifying his strategic ambitions.
The stakes are not just about Trump's appearance in Kuala Lumpur, but whether Asean can uphold its role as a convenor of competing powers without becoming a stage for their rivalry.
If diplomacy is truly about creative manoeuvring, then Asean's greatest test now lies not in managing Trump — but in ensuring it doesn't lose itself while doing so.
* Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies and director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Asean aims for 30 to 40pct intra-bloc trade, says Mohamad Hasan
Asean aims for 30 to 40pct intra-bloc trade, says Mohamad Hasan

New Straits Times

time6 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Asean aims for 30 to 40pct intra-bloc trade, says Mohamad Hasan

KUALA LUMPUR: Greater trade between Asean member states could help reduce over-reliance on traditional trading partners and cushion the region against increasing global economic uncertainty, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Noting that intra-Asean trade currently remains below 25 per cent, Mohamad said the Asean 2045: Our Shared Future framework aims to boost trade within the region. "While Asean already possesses significant political strength, our economies are still heavily dependent on countries outside the bloc. Therefore, we must strengthen the economic ties between member states by increasing intra-Asean trade. "If we can raise that figure to 30 or 40 per cent, it would be a major milestone," he said in response to a supplementary question from Manndzri Nasib (BN–Tenggara) in the Dewan Rakyat. Manndzri had asked about key initiatives to ensure Asean's continued relevance after Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, particularly in enhancing the bloc's unity and centrality amid current geopolitical challenges. Mohamad said that Malaysia, domestically, still relied on its traditional trade partners. "Malaysia must diversify beyond its established trading partners to avoid potential economic disruptions when those partners face difficulties. "When issues emerge in those countries, it poses serious challenges to our economy. We do not want this situation to persist. "That is why we are exploring new markets. Malaysia's recent acceptance as a partner country in BRICS is significant — it's a large grouping representing 40 per cent of the world's population and 25 per cent of global GDP," he said. On Asean's broader outreach, Mohamad said the recent Asean–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit was a key step in strengthening ties with resource-rich Gulf nations. "We also held the Asean–GCC–China meeting. If these three major blocs can be effectively integrated, the outlook for Asean is highly promising. "The Gulf countries have strong purchasing power, Asean has a sizeable workforce, and China offers a vast market. Linking these strengths presents enormous economic potential for Asean," he added.

Anwar rolls out Sejahtera Madani scheme to elevate poor households
Anwar rolls out Sejahtera Madani scheme to elevate poor households

Malay Mail

time6 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Anwar rolls out Sejahtera Madani scheme to elevate poor households

PUTRAJAYA, 24 July — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today launched the Sejahtera Madani 2025 initiative aimed at improving the wellbeing of poor and hardcore poor households across Malaysia. The programme coordinated by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister's Department and targets beneficiaries registered in the national eKasih database. The ICU said Sejahtera Madani consolidates various forms of government, private sector, and civil society aid into a single, focused approach to poverty reduction. The initiative is based on a 'whole of nation' strategy and introduces four key areas of intervention: income generation, education, housing, and welfare. Through this programme, the government aims to deliver high-impact and sustainable support to eKasih's heads of households and their family members. A total of RM100 million in corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions is expected to be channelled into the People's Wellbeing Fund under the ICU's management. All contributions to the fund will qualify for income tax deductions under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967, as approved by the Ministry of Finance. As of July 15, 306,403 heads of households are registered in eKasih nationwide, comprising 1,017 hardcore poor and 305,386 poor households. The government aims to reduce the national poverty rate by 33 per cent this year as part of its ongoing commitment to eradicate hardcore poverty.

Home minister says no firm evidence to show Jho Low in China
Home minister says no firm evidence to show Jho Low in China

Malay Mail

time6 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Home minister says no firm evidence to show Jho Low in China

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 – Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said authorities have yet to obtain concrete evidence to verify recent reports that fugitive financier Low Taek Jho — better known as Jho Low — is residing and working in China under a false identity. Speaking to reporters today, Saifuddin addressed renewed claims published by international investigative journalists alleging that Low has been using a fake passport and operating freely in China. 'To date, we have not received any solid or verifiable evidence to confirm these reports,' he said 'We take all leads seriously, but there is nothing concrete at this point that we can act upon.' Saifuddin added that Malaysia continues to rely on diplomatic channels and cooperation with foreign intelligence and law enforcement to pursue the case, but noted that the process is complex. 'We need more than media reports, we need official confirmation or cooperation from the country where he is allegedly residing,' he said. Jho Low is the key figure in the massive 1MDB financial scandal and is wanted by multiple jurisdictions, including Malaysia and the United States. Despite numerous sightings and reports over the years, efforts to arrest and extradite him have so far failed. Saifuddin said Malaysia remains committed to locating and apprehending him, but reiterated that international legal cooperation is essential. 'We will continue working with our counterparts but for now, there's no new breakthrough,' he concluded. Reports emerged recently alleging that Jho Low is living in luxury in China under unofficial protection. The report was made by investigative journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store