President Donald Trump’s three-nation tour of Southeast Asia—his first since returning to office—focuses heavily on trade diplomacy and strategic engagement. Beginning in Malaysia, Trump is set to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and attend the ASEAN summit, where themes of inclusivity and sustainability dominate. He will also participate in a peace agreement ceremony between Cambodia and Thailand, a conflict he claims to have helped resolve. In Japan, Trump will meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has pledged increased defense spending and hinted at revisiting trade agreements. Trump’s visit includes an audience with Emperor Naruhito and meetings with business leaders and U.S. troops stationed there.
The trip culminates in South Korea, where Trump is expected to address APEC leaders and potentially meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, though Beijing has yet to confirm. Trade tensions loom large, with Trump threatening steep tariffs in response to China’s export controls, while fentanyl, Taiwan, and Russian oil purchases are also on the agenda. Despite skipping key multilateral forums, Trump remains a central figure in regional diplomacy, with leaders eager to negotiate tariff relief. Analysts caution against overestimating the impact of summit optics, noting past high-level talks with China didn’t prevent future escalations. Trump has also floated the idea of meeting North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, signaling openness to renewed dialogue despite nuclear tensions.