By Collins Chong Yew Keat

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: President Donald J. Trump’s decision to attend the October 2025 ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur is a powerful three-pronged message to regional powers and adversaries alike. 

First, it sends the enduring message that the U.S. is back and is ready to provide strong countermeasures and deterrence against China in economic and security capacities. 

Second, it sends a message that this long held strategic dependence by the region on Washington has been lopsided for decades, and this needs to stop now. If the region still yearns for U.S. security and economic umbrella (which it still does, now more than ever), then the injustice of the trade and security approach will need to be corrected. 

Third, it sends a strong message to Beijing that the era where this region has long been Beijing’s convenient playground of influence, coercion and economic manipulation, is now over. Washington is now back in re engaging and regaining lost times, but at Trump’s terms. 

President Trump rightly undid the past economic injustices where the  world treated the U.S. unfairly, and with this visit, regional players must seize upon this rare chance to correct the wrongs and to ensure that the U.S. presence in the region is secured, at a time where the region is pushed to the brink by unchecked Chinese bullying and coercion in South China Sea. 

It is the biggest moment for the region to rectify its past mistake of taking U.S. for granted, treating Washington as a piggyback to enhance the region’s economic and trade advantages, at the expense of U.S. This is the time to finally show goodwill and the initiative to deepen ties based on reciprocity and justice. 

Trump’s absence from multiple ASEAN summits during his first term had raised concerns in the region about waning U.S. interest in Southeast Asia, and this visit now is seen as the much-needed relief by the region in securing the long-awaited message of assurance by Trump himself that the U.S. will not retreat from this region under the "U.S. First" banner.

The region, although still mired in its self-induced mantra of non-alignment and strategic hedging, is in actual fact yearning deeply for the full strength of U.S. economic and market offerings and most importantly, the security umbrella at a time where the region does not have the needed own security deterrence adequate to provide strong deterrence to China’s growing bellicosity.

For decades, the region has been taking Washington for a ride, in getting the security support for virtually free, but unwilling to adjust the trade imbalance, and worse still, continuing to reap the benefits of the lopsided trade outcome with surpluses, at the expense of U.S. coffers and employment, all while cosying up to easy economic overtures of Beijing. 

This needs to stop, and Trump is right in halting this to save U.S. jobs and making it wealthy again by bringing back jobs. If the American economy and wealth are back to where it was, this region and the world will also be the first to gain. Hence, the tariff reset is not a zero sum game that will bleed this region, as has been perceived by many. 

Trump's strategic move to "Make America Great Again" will bring economic and peace benefits to the region, but this has not been realised and appreciated by the conventional policymakers and societal masses in the region, who have been engulfed by the constant anti-Trump narratives on his trade moves.

U.S. is Still the World’s Most Powerful Nation, By Far

The U.S. remains unrivalled, even with China in the equation. Washington spends around close to USD1 trillion, with around US$997 billion on defence in 2024, by far the largest globally, and this is more than the next nine countries combined, and the military will be far greater under Trump now.  China’s military expenditure in 2024 is estimated at about US$314 billion, roughly one-third of U.S. spending. 

The U.S. nominal GDP in 2024 stands at about US$29.2 trillion, while China’s is about US$18.9 trillion, giving the U.S. a clear lead in total economic size (projections of China overtaking the U.S. have never materialised), and the U.S. economy will further thrive under Trump’s mantra of "Making America Wealthy Again".  

On technology and innovation, the U.S. continues to lead in key critical technologies (AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotech). China’s innovation capability is estimated at -75 percent of U.S. levels in advanced-industry terms.

In short: the U.S. remains top by far across these domains - militarily it enjoys a massive edge, economically it retains a substantial lead, and technologically it still leads. These are facts that this region must accept. 

Trump’s presence now in ASEAN is a strategic recalibration of both containing China and getting the regional support in also shoring up U.S. gains at home. Trump recognises that skipping these summits came at a cost – it created a diplomatic vacuum that rivals like China rushed to fill.

Trade, Economics, and Resources

Southeast Asia is vitally important in Trump’s second-term agenda, both as an economic partner and as a strategic arena in the U.S.-China competition. Economically, the region is a powerhouse that the U.S. will need as a complementary economic support.

No other power has both the capability and the legacy of trust to undertake this thankless task of maintaining the rules based order and peace and stability in the region.

Southeast Asia has significant natural reserves of several key critical minerals. Indonesia alone holds about 22 percent of the world’s nickel reserves, while Vietnam contains roughly 18 percent of global rare-earth elements. Malaysia itself has an estimated 16.1 million metric tons of rare-earth deposits.

By deepening ties with Southeast Asian nations, the U.S. can secure diversified access to critical minerals and ensure these resources remain in friendly hands, further adding to the momentum of the rare earths deal with Australia. 

Deterring Assertiveness and Counterweight to China

Strategically and militarily, Southeast Asia is the geographic heart of the Indo-Pacific – and a frontline in the contest with China. Beijing’s “nine-dash line” claims 90 percent of South China Sea, directly challenging both international law and the security of Southeast Asian states, and posing a threat to Washington’s supply chain and economic resilience in maritime stability and security. 

China has militarised reefs and increased naval patrols, raising tensions with countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia and a deeper U.S. involvement is a crucial counterweight, and ensuring that these powers have the ability to protect and secure their rights and interests under international law. 

U.S. naval patrols and defense partnerships provide a security umbrella that helps deter Chinese aggression in disputed waters. 

Having the U.S. visibly back in the game restores balance and deters unilateral Chinese moves. A declining U.S. presence left the region’s autonomy at risk. Trump’s re-engagement is the right strategy to reverse that decline. Most importantly, Trump’s approach is seen as correcting the region’s past tilt toward China.

In the decade before, many regional players welcomed Chinese investment and infrastructure projects under the  Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but this pivot to China came with strings attached,  from rising debts to fear of economic coercion, and did not resolve longstanding security threats.

These experiences of Chinese actions have been a wake-up call, with a new understanding that over-reliance on Beijing was a mistake that must be balanced by strong ties with Washington.

Trump is the Only Leader Capable to Maintain Peace and Deter Conflicts

Most important will be on having a robust and assured defence and security pledge. Security will be a prominent theme of the visit. Trump is expected to reinforce defence cooperation and commitments with ASEAN countries.

The overarching goal is to deter aggression in hotspots like the South China Sea. It is hoped that Trump will reiterate that the U.S. opposes any single power’s domination of the South China Sea and stands by freedom of navigation. 

The strength of Trump's leadership and his approach as a statesman and peacemaker, has been proven, as rightly so, and this must be made known in the region that has had long disdain with his leadership. 

Trump brings economic and security assurances, and the ability to deter conflicts. The ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand is essentially his own making, and no other leader would have the flex and authority to compel both sides to agree to a ceasefire.

If U.S. is absent, China’s sphere will expand but if U.S. is engaged, it is a checkmate on Beijing’s larger goal of choking the U.S. 

The World and the Region Need America and Trump

By rebuilding trust and ties in Southeast Asia, Trump is laying the groundwork for an U.S.-led coalition that can effectively check China’s expansionism while promoting shared prosperity.

It sends a powerful message across Asia: that American leadership is back under Trump, and the future of the Indo-Pacific will not be written by Beijing but the strength of Trump’s unique persona and approach, which are needed by this region and the world to maintain peace and deter conflicts. 

No other leader in the world has such distinct leadership, audacity and unwavering foresight and commitment to make things right and preserve peace and stability and deter conflicts, and Trump shows to the region why it is high time for us do our part in correcting past mistakes of the neglect of U.S. and also supporting the cause of a just and fair trade and ties with Washington. 

U.S. being better off economically will bring economic prosperity to our region, and U.S. being great again under Trump will mean that wars will be prevented and peace and stability throughout the world and this region will be preserved, through "Peace Through Strength".

Let us not forget that. 

Welcome to Malaysia and the region, President Donald J. Trump!

*Collins Chong Yew Keat is a foreign affairs and strategy analyst and author in University of Malaya.*