US President Donald Trump has arrived in Malaysia ahead of the annual ASEAN during which he will witness the signing of a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia.
Posting on Truth Social on his way to Kuala Lumpur, Trump took credit for the ceasefire between the two nations.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and other Cabinet ministers and senior government officials greeted him at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysian media reported that upon arrival, Trump shared a light moment with performers, joining the dance troupe with his own moves and chatting with some of them.
Trump also held both the US and Malaysia flags, waving them jovially.
It’s Trump's maiden official visit to Malaysia and his first participation in an ASEAN leaders' summit since returning to office.
Trump is expected to participate in high-level dialogues and witness the signing of the so-called Kuala Lumpur Accord - a landmark peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia aimed at ending their long-running border conflicts.
Bernama reported that Trump said he decided to include Malaysia in his regional visit in recognition of the country’s active diplomacy in helping broker the ceasefire.
“I told the leader of Malaysia, who is a very good man, I said, ‘I think owe you a trip,’ and that’s why we are stopping in Malaysia for that reason,” he spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after leaving Washington for Kuala Lumpur.
Trump said he will witness the signing of the peace deal as soon as he arrives in Malaysia.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had requested that the signing be done earlier because of the death of the kingdom’s Queen Mother, will be on hand “when we land”, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social from aboard Air Force One.
“Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand,” Trump wrote.
“In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival.”
