“Indo-Pacific’s summit season is on: How the region will manage Trump factor”, First Post, October 20, 2025
“Each year, as October and November arrive, the Indo-Pacific enters its season of summitry. The sequence begins with the East Asia Summit (EAS), the key forum bringing together regional and global powers under Asean’s leadership, followed by the APEC Summit and the G20 Summit. This period becomes a diplomatic high point for the region, as it shapes both multilateral cooperation and the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.
In 2025, two of these summits, the EAS and APEC, will be held within the Indo-Pacific. Malaysia is the Asean and EAS host, while South Korea will host APEC. Both await the participation of US President Donald Trump, whose presence, while potentially reinvigorating American engagement, also carries the risk of disruption. The Trump administration’s uncertain approach to foreign policy has left hosts cautiously optimistic yet wary about how his attendance might shape the proceedings.
Malaysia’s High-Stakes Diplomacy
Malaysia will host the Asean Summit, the Asean–US Summit, and the East Asia Summit on October 26–27 in Kuala Lumpur. As Asean Chair, it hopes to project the organisation’s continued centrality amid major-power rivalry. The Malaysian leadership views Trump’s participation as a potential diplomatic success and a signal of renewed US attention to Southeast Asia……..”
Read full article at firstpost.com
