Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju: Malaysia’s expanding diplomatic footprint

In this context, diplomacy has become more than protocol. It is a test of leadership and an exercise in balancing competing global interests.

Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, ASEAN took a more assertive approach to contemporary challenges. Once known for its cautious, consensus-driven style, the bloc advanced initiatives on climate resilience, digital transformation, and supply chain security.

Projects such as the SME Centre of Excellence for Green Transition and the STI Ecosystem Foresight 2035 Roadmap signalled ASEAN’s intent to move from policy statements to implementation. The formal admission of Timor-Leste as the bloc’s 11th member reinforced ASEAN’s inclusive approach and commitment to Centrality.

For Malaysia, ASEAN Centrality has evolved from a diplomatic slogan into a framework for asserting regional relevance within an increasingly fragmented global order.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defined Malaysia’s foreign policy through a mix of principle and pragmatism. As ASEAN Chair, he sought to engage with all major powers while avoiding alignment with any single bloc.

This approach positioned Malaysia as a bridge between ASEAN and the Global South, advocating for equity, sustainability, and shared responsibility. It is a diplomacy rooted in connection rather than confrontation.

Malaysia now carries that momentum into the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. The forum, while focused on economic cooperation, increasingly shapes global policy debates on technology, inclusion, and sustainability.

Malaysia seeks to bridge developing and industrialised economies, advocating for the perspectives of the Global South, often underrepresented in global governance. Issues such as AI governance, digital inequality, and climate equity must be addressed through an inclusive framework that reflects diverse development realities.

Malaysia enters APEC not as a major power but as a credible mediator with a long record of supporting multilateralism and conflict resolution. In a world marked by renewed great power rivalry and declining trust in international institutions, middle powers such as Malaysia play a growing role as bridge-builders.

By maintaining a pragmatic stance while upholding moral consistency, Malaysia has shown that influence can be exercised through balance rather than dominance.

As global challenges intensify, from the climate crisis to economic fragmentation, ASEAN and APEC face increasing pressure to deliver collective solutions.

Through its leadership in ASEAN and participation in APEC, Malaysia aims to reinforce principles of justice, inclusivity, and sustainability at the heart of multilateral cooperation.

The message from Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju is clear: in shaping tomorrow’s global order, the Global South is not a bystander but an essential voice at the table.