US President Donald Trump arrives in Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit, marking his first presidential visit to the country in ten years.
SEPANG: United States President Donald Trump landed in Malaysia today to participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit, representing the first visit by a US president to the nation in a decade.
Air Force One touched down at the Bunga Raya Complex in KLIA around 10 am, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail formally welcomed the American leader.
First Lady Melania Trump and other senior US officials accompanied the president on this significant diplomatic mission.
The presidential motorcade featured “The Beast”, the specially armored state vehicle transported to Malaysia for use during Trump’s official engagements.
Trump proceeded directly to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to join the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits scheduled from October 26 to 28.
This visit marks Trump’s first official trip to Malaysia and his initial participation in an ASEAN Leaders’ Summit since returning to the White House.
He becomes only the third American president to visit Malaysia after Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in both 2014 and 2015.
During his previous presidential term, Trump attended the 2017 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines but did not participate in subsequent regional meetings.
The last US presidential visit to Malaysia occurred in 2015 when Obama visited, making Trump’s arrival particularly significant for US-ASEAN relations.
This Asian tour represents Trump’s first visit to the region since beginning his non-consecutive second term in January.
The 47th ASEAN Summit operates under Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme focusing on “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
World leaders from all ten ASEAN member states and key dialogue partners including the United States, China, Japan and India are attending the gathering.
Trump is scheduled to participate in high-level dialogues and witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Accord between Thailand and Cambodia.
Prime Minister Anwar welcomed the presidential visit as a diplomatic milestone demonstrating renewed American engagement with Southeast Asia.
Malaysia remains dedicated to using the summit platform to promote dialogue and emphasize ASEAN’s strategic significance globally.
Other prominent leaders attending include Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also participating in the important regional summit.
Cyprus and Finland will join ASEAN as new dialogue partners, expanding the bloc’s international cooperative framework.
The summit also brings together leaders from Australia, the European Union and other strategic partners.
These meetings will conclude on October 28 with several joint declarations outlining regional priorities for peace and sustainable growth.
This summit represents Malaysia’s final event as ASEAN Chair 2025 before transferring leadership to the Philippines for 2026. – Bernama
