What Is the ASEAN Summit, the First Event on Trump’s Tour of Asia?

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Sui-Lee WeeOctober 26, 2025 at 01:32 AM

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medium article 3 min

President Trump is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia as part of his week-long Asia tour. ASEAN comprises 10 member states and recently welcomed its 11th member, East Timor. The bloc represents nearly 700 million people with a combined GDP exceeding $3.6 trillion, making it the fifth-largest economy globally. For the United States, ASEAN is significant for economic trade and as a counterbalance to China's influence in the region. Despite its growing importance, ASEAN faces challenges such as internal conflicts within member states like Myanmar and issues with online scams originating from Cambodia and Myanmar. The U.S. views ASEAN as crucial for maintaining a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

Key Topics & Entities

Joseph R. Biden Jr. 30% Cambodia 40% Malaysia 50% China ×260% US ×370% Donald Trump ×280% Association of Southeast Asian Nations ×290% ASEAN Summit ×3100%

Keywords

asean summit 100% trump's asia tour 90% southeast asian nations 80% china-us competition 70% asean way 60% economic market 50% indo-pacific strategy 50% south china sea 40% trade with asean 40% geostrategic importance 40%