Anwar said traditional instruments of economic growth, such as tariffs, exports and investment, were now “sharpened instruments of geopolitical rivalry” in a rapidly polarising world.

“This is no passing storm. It is the new weather of our times,” he said in his keynote address at the opening ceremony for the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conferences today.

“Asean must confront this reality with clarity and conviction. We must read the landscape clinically, speak with coherence, and act with foresight.”

He urged Asean to tighten coordination between its foreign and economic policy tracks, saying ministers across portfolios must “move in concert” to meet evolving challenges.

“Our cohesion must not end at declarations. It must be built into our institutions, our strategies, and our economic decisions,” he said.

Anwar’s remarks come a day after US president Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Malaysian goods starting Aug 1, citing a trade imbalance.

In a letter to Anwar, Trump warned that any retaliatory tariffs on US goods would trigger a further 25% tariff hike.

In his speech, Anwar also addressed the recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over a border dispute.

“Even the unfortunate incidents recently between Cambodia and Thailand, (over) which, of course, most leaders, all Asean leaders, do express some concern – we had no inhibition at all about immediately calling our colleagues in both countries to express our concern and to support all endeavors and initiatives to secure a lasting peace,” he said.