Asean’s moment of truth may have finally arrived

[SINGAPORE] At a time of fracturing trade ties and rising geopolitical headwinds, Malaysia – this year’s Asean chair – has unwittingly found itself cast as the 10-member bloc’s middleman. A disconcerting position no doubt, but one that could offer Putrajaya – under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – a rare window of leverage and responsibility.

Anwar has framed Malaysia’s chairmanship as an opportunity to revive Asean’s economic relevance, positioning the bloc as a potential stabilising force amid US-China rivalry.

That vision collided head-on with reality early this month, when US President Donald Trump unleashed a fresh volley of tariffs that threatens to upend South-east Asia’s economic lynchpin – its exports – and undo decades of progress.