U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to visit Malaysia on October 26, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced on Tuesday, as the country prepares to host the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28.
The visit is expected to coincide with a historic ceasefire accord between Thailand and Cambodia following deadly border clashes earlier this year.
Foreign Minister Mohamad expressed his optimism that the summit would see the signing of the “Kuala Lumpur Accord,” a declaration designed to guarantee peace and a sustained ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.
Hostilities had flared in July at undemarcated sections of the two countries’ shared 817-kilometer border, resulting in five days of conflict that claimed at least 48 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands—marking the worst fighting between the neighbours in more than a decade.
Malaysia, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has played a central role in brokering peace, with the initial truce achieved on July 28 after diplomatic efforts and direct telephone calls between Trump and the leaders of both countries. Malaysian and U.S. authorities are set to jointly oversee the broader ceasefire agreement, which will include the removal of land mines and heavy weaponry from the disputed border regions, according to Mohamad.
While Trump’s planned attendance was affirmed by Prime Minister Anwar, there has not yet been an official confirmation from the White House. A source familiar with the arrangements, however, indicated the trip is in progress.
Over the weekend, foreign ministers from Thailand and Cambodia convened in Kuala Lumpur to advance negotiations, joined by representatives from the U.S. and Malaysia.
The East Asia Summit, a key fixture of the upcoming ASEAN meetings, will issue a chairman’s statement instead of a joint communique. The U.S. reportedly objected to the use of the word “inclusivity” in the official language, Mohamad noted without providing further details.
Leaders from all 10 ASEAN nations, alongside key trade partners such as China, Japan, Russia, and the U.S., are expected to attend this month’s summit.
