US President Donald Trump will only attend the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia later this month if he is allowed to preside over a symbolic peace deal signing between Cambodia and Thailand, according to reports by Politico and the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Politico, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the discussions, said the White House informed Malaysia that Trump’s participation depends on his role in a ceremonial event marking the ceasefire agreement between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. The report also noted that Washington has asked summit organisers to exclude Chinese officials from the ceremony, placing Malaysia in a “difficult position.”

Although Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously confirmed Trump’s attendance, the latest conditions have cast uncertainty over the visit. Trump, who remains unpopular in Malaysia due to his strong pro-Israel stance, reportedly views the event as an opportunity to claim credit for brokering the truce. Last month, he declared that it would be a “big insult” if he did not win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

The SCMP corroborated the reports, citing diplomatic and Malaysian government sources who said Trump wants a special side event during the ASEAN Summit to highlight his role in facilitating the peace process. “That is one of his reasons for coming to Kuala Lumpur,” one of the four sources told the Hong Kong-based outlet.

Neither Anwar’s office nor Malaysia’s foreign ministry has commented on the reports. Analysts say the Malaysian leader faces a delicate balancing act between accommodating Washington’s requests, particularly amid ongoing negotiations for a US–Malaysia trade deal, and maintaining stable relations with China, the country’s largest trading partner.

Malaysian officials believe Trump may still attend if the trade negotiations are finalised, even without the Cambodia–Thailand ceremony. However, US officials have reportedly described Malaysia’s status as “up in the air” due to both the trade and peace deal remaining unresolved.

The peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia has been largely credited to regional diplomatic efforts, with Bangkok previously stating that “Cambodia’s actions, not Trump’s mediation,” were the key to sustaining peace.