KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has written to United States President Donald Trump to request his support for a US-Asean meeting amid rising protectionist measures from Washington, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

Speaking at the opening of the 46th Asean Summit here, Anwar said the request followed the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Langkawi earlier this year.

“I have taken the liberty of writing to President Donald Trump to seek his understanding and support in organising a US-Asean meeting, which reflects our serious commitment to the principle of centrality.

“This speaks not only to our aspirations but also to our responsibilities,” he said, as reported by FMT, adding that Asean’s future depends on “equitable, sustainable growth and lasting resilience.”

It was earlier reported that discussions had taken place between Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 5 regarding a date for the proposed Asean-US Special Summit.

However, on April 3, Trump announced new tariffs increasing import duties on Southeast Asian goods. Malaysia was subjected to a 24 per cent tariff, with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam also heavily impacted, while Singapore received a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

Despite the economic strain, Asean economic ministers have opted against retaliatory measures, advocating instead for constructive dialogue with the US.

“When we encountered the tariff issue, we agreed to proceed with bilateral meetings while maintaining Asean consensus,” Anwar said, according to FMT.

The report also highlighted Anwar’s remarks on progress addressing the Myanmar crisis, citing the Informal Advisory Group on Myanmar led by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The group has been engaging Myanmar’s military junta and other stakeholders to advance peace efforts aligned with the Asean Five-Point Consensus.

“Quiet engagement matters. The steps may be small and the bridge may be fragile, but as they say, in matters of peace, even a fragile bridge is better than a widening gulf,” Anwar was quoted as saying by FMT.

This year marks Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean, a decade since the establishment of the Asean Community.