Sign in Subscribe
Foreign ministers

ASEAN Summit: Trump to Witness Ceasefire Deal in Malaysia

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will travel to Malaysia to sign a ceasefire deal with Cambodia, which US President Donald Trump is set to witness. The development comes after Trump pulled out of the ASEAN Summit due to the death of Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit. The ceasefire deal is a result of Trump's efforts to broker an end to a deadly five-day border conflict in July, which resulted in dozens of deaths and the temporary displacement of around 300,000 people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ASEAN Summit will continue with a weekend of global diplomacy in Kuala Lumpur, despite Trump's initial withdrawal.
  • The US and China will hold trade talks alongside the summit, with the aim of finding a way forward after Trump's threat of new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.
  • The ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand is a significant development in the region, and Trump is expected to witness the signing of the agreement in Malaysia.
  • The Thai cabinet has scheduled a meeting on Saturday morning to discuss funeral arrangements for Queen Mother Sirikit.
  • The ASEAN Summit will also welcome East Timor as its 11th member, with the region planning to press for trade multilateralism and deepen ties with new partners.
  • Trump is set to hold a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit, where Lula plans to argue that 50% tariffs imposed by Washington on Brazilian goods were a "mistake".
  • The US and Canada have reached a trade deal, with Trump stating that he is "satisfied with the deal we have" with Canada.

Statistics:

  • 300,000 people were temporarily displaced in the recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
  • 50% tariffs have been imposed by Washington on Brazilian goods.
  • $410 billion is the US trade surplus with Brazil over 15 years, according to Lula.
  • 100% tariffs are the new tariffs threatened by Trump on Chinese goods.
  • 11th member: East Timor will join ASEAN as its newest member.

Sources:

  • ASEAN
  • Bangkok Post
  • CNN
  • Reuters
  • The U.S. Department of State
  • Bloomberg
  • Financial Times

Read more