KUALA LUMPUR - Re-elected President Donald Trump is likely to adopt a new approach during his new term in fostering regional peace and prosperity while also strengthening existing trade relations, said US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan.
Kagan said that while Trump was very focused on strengthening Indo-Pacific ties and ensuring the region's continued peace and prosperity during his previous administration, the new term could bring a shift in style and approach.
"But I believe the approach will change because each administration has its own style," he said in response to a question about Trump administration policies following his political comeback.
He said during the previous Trump administration, the fundamentals were that prosperity, security and global standing were heavily influenced by developments in the Indo Pacific and there was also a commitment to ensuring that strong trade continued, but on a fair basis.
"So, I believe we can expect to see (new) things along those lines," he told reporters after attending the US-Malaysia Vice Chancellor Round Table Dialogue: Partnerships in Higher Education 2024, today.
Trump is set for a second term as US president after defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the White House.
Trump was first elected president in 2016, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In 2020, he was defeated by Joe Biden, who had served as vice president under President Barack Obama.
This victory would make Trump the second US president to serve non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland, who served two terms in the late 1800s.
Trump will be inaugurated for a second White House term on Jan 20, 2025.
"In the end, we will have to wait and see what the administration does once the president is sworn in and people take their positions," said Kagan.
Regarding the possibility of ending the genocide in Gaza, Kagan said that any US administration aims to promote peace and stability, adding that the direction the new administration might take should soon become clear as it progresses through the transition period.
"I believe there will be a different administration and approach, as we have long believed that a ceasefire is critical," he said. - BERNAMA