As one of the few platforms where rival powers still sit under one roof, the summit will test Asean’s ability to navigate great-power rivalry, strengthen economic resilience and keep its people-centred agenda credible.
The bloc’s convening power will again be on full display, drawing leaders from across Asia and beyond – including newly elected heads of government and the return of a familiar face whose presence guarantees international attention.
Trump’s return
US president Donald Trump’s return to the Asean stage – his first since 2017 – is set to dominate the optics of the summit.
According to Joanne Lin of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, Trump’s arrival reintroduces Washington to a forum it has largely kept at arm’s length, even as the Indo-Pacific becomes the centre of global competition.
“Trump’s attendance couldn’t come at a more interesting time, following the imposition of US tariffs and the fragmentation of global trade. It restores US visibility after years of absence.
“However, his larger-than-life presence might overshadow other summits and dilute Asean’s broader regional agenda,” she said.
Lin said Asean leaders are likely to use the opportunity to raise concerns about tariffs, supply chain stability and a need for consistent US engagement.
“The key will be how Asean leverages this moment by reaffirming its principles while showing that engagement with the US must be sustained and predictable,” she said.
Malaysia’s former high commissioner to Singapore, Ilango Karuppannan, agreed that the meeting will be as much about perception as policy.
With Chinese president Xi Jinping absent and premier Li Qiang attending in his place, he said the “battle of optics” could fuel the impression of an American tilt.
“When that photo of Trump flanked by Asean leaders appears in Washington or New York, it’ll look like Asean has shifted towards the US,” he said.
Ilango said this imbalance, while symbolic, may encourage both powers to re-engage the region more seriously.
“Our interest has always been to make sure America and China behave in a predictable and stable manner. If that happens, that’s good for everyone.”
The gathering also welcomes a slate of new faces: Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi, South Korea’s newly-elected president Lee Jae-myung and Thailand’s post-election government – all attending their first Asean meeting.
Timor-Leste’s debut
Beyond the high politics, this year’s summit also carries deep symbolism. Timor-Leste’s long-awaited admission as Asean’s 11th member will be one of Kuala Lumpur’s biggest milestones.
Lin said the inclusion completes “the geographical map of Southeast Asia after 14 years of deliberations” and reflects Malaysia’s theme of inclusivity.
“Welcoming a small and developing member is more than symbolic – it reflects Asean’s commitment to inclusivity and regional identity.
“The real test now is translating that symbolism into substance,” she told FMT.
Ilango said the new membership marks a historic expansion – Asean’s first since the late 1990s – and a reminder of the grouping’s lasting appeal.
“This is a very big thing because it’s been a very long time since we’ve had new members joining. It’s a visible deliverable under Malaysia’s chairmanship.”
Both experts noted, however, that the accession will test Asean’s capacity to integrate a smaller, less-developed economy.
“It adds complexity to consensus-building, but it also brings valuable experience in democratic transition and post-conflict development,” Lin said.
Digital cooperation
While geopolitics may dominate the headlines, economic issues will form the summit’s backbone.
Both analysts expect key deliverables to focus on the digital economy framework agreement, the Asean geoeconomic task force and the Asean industrial strategy – all aimed at bolstering regional self-reliance and industrial coordination.
“These aren’t just policy buzzwords. They’re concrete frameworks to help Asean deal with tariff shocks and strengthen supply chains,” Lin said.
“Malaysia has positioned Asean to anticipate and shape the economic agenda, and that’s a new kind of regional resilience,” she said.
The digital framework could eventually govern US$2 trillion in digital trade, a scale Ilango called “unprecedented”.
He added that Malaysia’s pragmatic chairmanship has helped the bloc move from rhetoric to results.
“This is one of the most important agreements Asean has crafted. No other region has anything like this.”
Keeping the peace
Amid competing powers and policy debates, Asean’s quieter function as a peacekeeper remains crucial. Lin added that this ability to bridge divides has long defined Asean’s appeal.
“It’s one of the last platforms where the US, China, Japan, India, Russia engage under a shared framework. That’s how Asean shapes the tone of regional cooperation.
“I expect the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire to be signed under the Kuala Lumpur Accord. It will be a symbolic moment showing that Asean can still help manage regional conflicts,” Lin said.
Ilango said Malaysia’s facilitation of that process illustrates how Asean’s influence often works behind the scenes.
“We’re good at being conveners because we’re friends with everyone. This mediation shows Asean’s centrality is visible globally.”
He noted that this convening power extends to the East Asia summit, which brings together the traditional adversaries like the US, Russia, China and Japan.
Progress, not paralysis
Despite the ambitious agenda, both analysts cautioned against expecting dramatic outcomes.
Ilango said expectations should be realistic, not dismissive, adding that Asean’s strength has always been its patience.
“Asean doesn’t do big-bang diplomacy. It builds results incrementally, year after year – that’s how it has worked since 1967.”
Lin also said that while discussions would be wide-ranging, progress on long-standing flashpoints would remain slow.
She added that Asean’s value lies in its ability to stay united even when results come slowly, “to keep everyone at the table, even when the world is fragmenting. That’s its enduring strength.”