By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, June 4 — When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim opened the 46th Asean Summit on May 26, his remarks carried an unmistakable theme of unity and multilateralism.
His message resonated not only with Malaysian delegates, but also regional peers, who echoed his call for greater cooperation.
In a region so often defined by delicate diplomacy and competing power interests, this renewed and increased sense of resolve comes as a breath of fresh air and a realisation that Asean must work together in the face of a shifting global landscape, shaped largely by the United States.
The imposition of unilateral tariffs is just one example of how the US has disrupted traditional trade dynamics, forcing countries to reconsider their dependence on the West.
But this is not just diplomatic rhetoric. Just a day after the summit convened, leaders from Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China came together in an unprecedented trilateral dialogue that signalled a shared commitment to deeper strategic cooperation.
The coming together of three of the most influential and fastest growing regions in the world was not unexpected, but it has undoubtedly sent ripples through the Oval Office and struck a particularly sharp chord with Donald Trump, whose brand of hardline politics and unilateralism are now unifying nations and the people.
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Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council delegates pose for a photo during the 46th Asean Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 27, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
Today, the “Trump Effect”, once synonymous with rising nationalism and political polarisation, is evolving into something far more complex, resulting in a global realignment and even impacting elections.
In Canada and Australia, conservative parties that were tipped to win their respective elections just months ago suffered crushing defeats that defied initial projections.
One of the main culprits, according to experts? Political ideologies not too different from Trump’s.
In Canada, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre adopted elements of the Trump style in his campaign, including pushing a “Canada First” slogan and attacking “wokeness”.
But when polling results began coming in on April 28, it became clear that Poilievre’s populist conservatism was not, in fact, popular.
Such was public sentiment against him that Poilievre lost the seat he had held since 2004 — a stunning blow to the Opposition leader long tipped to be the country’s next prime minister.
A similar story unfolded in the Australian election last month, as Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, who like Poilievre embraced themes associated with Trump, lost his own seat along with his party’s election bid.
While the election results may not be solely attributed to the Trump Effect, the prevailing sentiment is that they represent a resounding rejection of divisive rhetoric and a clear shift toward a more moderate, collaborative approach — a clear backlash against Trumpism.
This political shift mirrors a broader trend taking shape on the global stage, as clearly reflected at the Asean Summit and Related Summits 2025.
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The Asean Malaysia 2025 logo displayed prominently in front of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on May 7, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
Just as voters are rejecting polarising leadership, nations, too, are pivoting from protectionist policies toward multilateralism, with Trump’s brand of unilateralism projected to further push countries to deepen cooperation, forge new partnerships and reduce their dependence on the US.
The growing alignment between Asean, the GCC and China is a testament to this.
As Anwar put it: “We must preserve the multilateral system and ensure the Asean-GCC-China geoeconomic model continues to play a meaningful role in forging a more inclusive and sustainable future, for our region and our people.”
When Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs, he aimed to free the American industry from what he saw as unfair trade practices and foreign dependency, but in doing so, and in trying to upend the global order, Trump may have inadvertently handed his rivals their trump card.
