Anwar Ibrahim Faults US Unilateralism, but Calls America Top Investor

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has drawn a distinction between his disagreements with American foreign policy under Donald Trump and the enduring value he places on ties with Washington, describing the United States as Malaysia's foremost investment partner.

In an exclusive interview, Ibrahim said Washington frequently adopts hardline positions and sidelines multilateral diplomacy. He argued that unilateralism has increasingly shaped American statecraft, at the expense of multinational arrangements, and said Malaysia's concerns on this front are shared by many countries, including India within the BRICS grouping.

At the same time, the Malaysian leader stressed that his differences are with specific policies rather than with the United States as a whole. He said Malaysia and the US share many common ideas, and that his objections are not directed at Trump personally.

Recalling a lengthy one-on-one conversation with the US president, Ibrahim said he spoke candidly and was struck by the patience with which his views were received. He described the exchange as unusually frank for a leader of a smaller nation.

Ibrahim explained that he engages with Washington because he regards America as a long-standing friend with a strong democratic tradition and a close partner of Malaysia over the past century. Above all, he said, the US remains Malaysia's number one source of investment, which requires Kuala Lumpur to weigh both sides of the relationship.

He made clear, however, that this pragmatic approach does not translate into agreement with American positions on Israel and Palestine, an issue on which Malaysia has consistently taken a distinct stance.