Malaysia proposes US-ASEAN Special Summit, awaits response from Washington

By AUFA MARDHIAH & HIDAYATH HISHAM

MALAYSIA has formally proposed holding a US-ASEAN Special Summit later this year and is currently awaiting a response from the United States.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Inrahim has written to the US, requesting for the ASEAN-US Special Summit sometime this year.

“We are still waiting for a response from the US side. Hopefully, we can get good news,” he told reporters during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He further noted that the official request to Washington expresses Malaysia’s interest in convening the meeting during Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.

However, he added that no specific timeline was provided, but any decision on the summit would likely be coordinated through ASEAN’s external relations mechanisms and aligned with the regional calendar.

Malaysia’s proposal comes amid rising trade tensions between the US and Southeast Asian nations, following the US administration’s announcement earlier this year to impose tariffs of up to 25% on imports of automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.

These measures have raised concern across ASEAN, where many economies are heavily export-dependent.

As the 2025 ASEAN Chair, Malaysia has taken a proactive role in rallying the bloc to engage with Washington.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz previously confirmed that ASEAN leaders had agreed to pursue direct engagement with the US to resolve tariff-related issues, stressing the bloc’s preference for dialogue over retaliatory measures.

The proposed special summit is intended to provide a platform for ASEAN member states to jointly convey their concerns and explore solutions that protect the region’s economic interests while strengthening strategic ties with the US.