Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim is playing one of his boldest diplomatic moves yet - extending an invitation to US President Donald Trump for the upcoming Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, despite Washington’s controversial close relation with Israel in its war on Gaza.
For Anwar, the decision reflects not a betrayal of principles but a calculated gamble: placing pragmatism and trade priorities above ideology while ensuring Malaysia upholds Asean’s diplomatic traditions.
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The invitation, confirmed through a phone call on July 31, 2025, comes at a time when anti-US sentiments remain high in Malaysia and parts of Southeast Asia due to Washington’s close ally and strong support for Israel. Opposition leaders and particularly former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has openly called for the invitation to be rescinded, accusing Trump of enabling “crimes against humanity” in Gaza. Nearly two years after Hamas’ deadly attack in Israel, the retaliatory campaign in Gaza has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, fueling widespread outrage across Muslim-majority nations.
Yet Anwar, addressing an event in Sabah, defended the decision, saying the summit would provide Malaysia and Asean a platform to raise concerns over Palestine directly with the US president. Although Malaysia is not a major power, Anwar noted that the country still earns international respect for its consistent stand in defending justice and freedom of expression on the global stage. Analysts argue this demonstrates Malaysia’s effort to transform the controversy into an opportunity for face-to-face diplomacy.
Joanne Lin Weiling of the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute said Malaysia’s move is consistent with Asean’s practice of treating dialogue partners equally. To retract the invitation would risk undermining Asean’s principle of neutrality. “Trump’s attendance offers a rare chance to engage him directly, especially on issues of trade, tariffs, and regional stability,” she said.
For Malaysia, the stakes are high. China has already edged out the US as Southeast Asia’s leading trade partner, with 20 per cent of exports going to Beijing compared to 16 per cent to Washington. Washington’s protectionist tariffs -19 per cent on Malaysia and ranging from 10 to 40 per cent across ASEAN - remain a sore point for member states. As senior analyst Azmi Hassan noted, the summit gives Anwar and his peers an opportunity to emphasize the region’s importance in global trade rather than confront Trump head-on.
Political analyst Oh Ei Sun went further, suggesting that Trump’s unpredictable nature could work in Asean’s favor. “If leaders can present proposals that benefit both the US and Asean, there’s a slim chance tariffs could be eased,” he said. He added that most Asean leaders would envy Trump’s stop in Kuala Lumpur, as it signals Malaysia’s pivotal role as regional chair.
Ultimately, Anwar’s invitation is less about endorsing Trump personally - an Asean diplomatic invitation tradition as dialogue partner - and more about using Asean’s platform to keep the bloc at the heart of global diplomacy. By engaging pragmatically with the world’s most powerful leader - even one as divisive as Trump - Anwar is betting on trade and strategy to deliver tangible gains for Malaysia and the region over ideology.
Whether this strategy pays off will depend on how effectively Anwar wields his “Trump card” in Kuala Lumpur’s summit halls this month.
By: Kpost
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