Despite trade tensions and the conflict in Gaza, Anwar rightly used Malaysia, as Asean chair then, to showcase our country’s capability to lead the bloc.
Anwar even convinced US President Donald Trump to attend the summit in Kuala Lumpur, where he was deftly handled by Putrajaya. While Asean welcomes US’ re-engagement, the bloc is keen to maintain its centrality to regional policymaking.
Putrajaya, in line with Asean doctrine, continues to pursue a non-aligned foreign policy in the midst of great power competition, tightening economic ties with China in the past decade while relying on Western nations, primarily the US, for security.
A free-trading nation like Malaysia is ultimately dependent on a...