THE United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D Kagan, has described President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Malaysia as a “new chapter” in relations between the two nations, commending the friendliness and hospitality extended by Malaysians.
“The most important thing is that we are now taking our relationship to the next level. I think we see US-Malaysia relations aligned across several truly key areas,” Kagan told a press conference today.
President Trump visited Kuala Lumpur to finalise trade negotiations and witness the signing of a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand during the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
Kagan said the US President was impressed by Malaysia during the first day of the summit.
“One thing the President mentioned to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before he departed today was that he was very pleased the world had the opportunity to see how great Malaysia is,” Kagan added.
He emphasised that the visit demonstrated Malaysia’s standing not only as an attractive destination but also as a strong partner to the United States.
“I think it shows … that even though we may not have been entirely aligned in recent years, there remains a strong pull between the United States and Malaysia,” he said.
Kagan also highlighted the benefits of the US-Malaysia Reciprocal Trade Agreement for both nations. During the visit, President Trump and Prime Minister Anwar, as ASEAN Chair, witnessed the signing of the KL Peace Agreement by Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, which ended the recent military conflict along the two countries’ border.
“The courage and determination of both leaders to do what is right for their people, their economies, and the region is commendable,” Kagan said. President Trump departed Malaysia on Monday, continuing his week-long diplomatic tour to Japan and South Korea. - October 28, 2025
