SPEECH BY DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA AT THE NIKKEI CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA 10 June 2026 Tokyo, Japan NAVIGATING STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY

SPEECH BY DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

AT THE

NIKKEI CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA

10 June 2026 Tokyo, Japan

NAVIGATING STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY

 Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me first to thank Nikkei for convening this significant gathering and for the honour of addressing such a distinguished audience.

Tokyo has long been a place where Asia comes to reflect on its future, and the Nikkei forum represents a key platform for geopolitical and geoeconomic discourse that is of consequence to the region.

Today, that conversation carries a special urgency, as we meet at a moment of profound disruption and uncertainty. But let us be clear, the uncertainty is strategic not because it has erupted overnight or even recently. In fact, it has been simmering for some time now.

This warrants an examination of the root causes. I daresay that among them is the fact that leaders have not really freed themselves of the old paradigm in geopolitics. It is one where the dictates of realpolitik and hegemonic considerations goad leaders to strive for power, constantly piling on their military and economic might in the name of strategic security.

The Cold War might have ended 35 years ago but, to be sure, history did not end with it. On the contrary, we are still held ransom to the classic zero-sum power dynamics where the strong continues to be invested in suppressing the weak. This is a formula for failure.

The continuing tragedy in Gaza, the tensions across West Asia and their compounding global effects, and the prolonged war in Ukraine remind us of the fragility of peace and the limits of international consensus. These are urgent and pressing concerns directly impacting the very fabric of international order. But this is not all.

Great power rivalry in this region, particularly, the South China sea disputes, pose a clear and present danger to maritime stability, placing Southeast Asia on edge. Meanwhile, we need to contend with the multi layered threat posed by North Korea on account of its nuclear programs, not to mention its tremendous warfare capacities, both conventional and cyber.

Navigating this strategic uncertainty warrants more than passive acceptance of the state of play. It is the duty of political leadership to provide clarity to this strategic flux and not condone the excesses of realpolitik, let alone contribute to fanning the flames of discord.

Nor do we consider it appropriate, let alone useful, for nations to be coy about the real issues that matter. The elephant in the room must be pointed out. We shouldn’t lay the blame on the younger generation for their idealism. We need leaders with the courage of conviction to call out the injustices and hardship that continue to plague us and to advocate for a more proactive approach to peace and progress.

Ladies and gentlemen,

History teaches us that disruption is not uncommon. Long before the emergence of our modern states, the peoples of the Malay world and the Japanese archipelago learned to navigate uncertain waters. As maritime civilisations, we came to understand a simple truth: prosperity did not come from turning inward, but from engaging the wider world through trade, dialogue, and cooperation.

That heritage also taught us something else: the importance of navigation. For centuries, sailors crossed vast oceans without certainty about what lay ahead. They could not control the winds, but they knew where to look for direction. Those were centuries of peaceful co-existence that took us on the path of global convivencia in the pursuit of common prosperity.

Today, however, the world's middle powers face cumulatively steep challenges as we find ourselves navigating an increasingly complex strategic landscape. Yet, even as we can neither control every geopolitical current nor predict every disruption, we must remain clear about the principles that provide our bearing, to guide us through the challenges before us.

The international system that supported decades of growth and development is under enormous strain. The multilateral trading system, once the cornerstone of global economic integration, faces mounting pressures from fragmentation, unilateral actions, and strategic competition. It appears that Trump’s failed “Liberation Day” tariffs are being given another new lease on life via new proposed impositions invoked under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Across the global economy, export restrictions and industrial policies are increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalry. Most troubling is the growing tendency to weaponise economic interdependence. Supply chains, technology, critical minerals, finance, and market access are increasingly viewed through the lens of rivalry rather than mutual benefit.

For major powers, these may be harnessed as instruments of statecraft. For many others, however, they become sources of vulnerability. Asia's prosperity was built on openness. Our economies grew because trade expanded, investment flowed, and markets became more interconnected.

Yet retreat to nostalgia can hardly be the way forward. The institutions that underpinned globalisation were designed for a different era. Today's challenges, from economic security and industrial policy to digital trade and emerging technologies, require fresh approaches and revitalised institutions.

The task before us is neither to abandon the multilateral system, nor to preserve it unchanged. It is to reform and renew it. Our task is to hold fast to a system underscored by the principles of openness, transparency, predictability, and a rules-based framework that gives all countries the confidence to engage with the world.

But we must also ensure that our institutions remain relevant to the challenges of our time. They must be capable of responding to new realities rather than antiquated assumptions.

Middle powers have a particular responsibility in this endeavour. We may not possess overwhelming power, but we possess credibility. We understand the aspirations of developing nations and the concerns of advanced economies. We are uniquely positioned to build bridges where others see divides, and build consensus where others see discord.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Asia's rise has been one of the defining achievements of our time. Economic integration expanded opportunities, lifted millions out of poverty, and transformed the region into a major engine of global growth. Yet the foundations of that success are increasingly under strain. Strategic competition risks dividing the region into competing spheres, while challenges such as climate change, demographic transitions, and technological disruption transcend national borders.

Artificial intelligence illustrates both the promise and peril of this new era. It has the potential to accelerate productivity, transform industries, and unlock new pathways to development. Yet it also risks widening inequalities, concentrating power, and leaving many societies struggling to keep pace.

The future of AI cannot be shaped solely by a handful of technological powers or private corporations. Whether it be in the guise of a new “civilising mission” or “digital colonisation”, we must reject any new fangled manifestation of technological fascism. Developing nations must have a firm voice in shaping the rules and governance frameworks that will influence the lives of billions.

 And that lesson extends well beyond AI. The challenges before us are simply too complex for any nation to address alone. Therefore, rather than capitulation, the answer lies in collaboration, encapsulating cooperation, trust, and institutions capable of bringing together diverse interests.

This is why ASEAN remains relevant. ASEAN centrality is not merely a diplomatic concept. It is a practical response to a more fragmented world. It reflects the conviction that inclusion must prevail over exclusion, dialogue over division, and cooperation over coercion.

 Japan has long been one of ASEAN's most valued partners in this endeavour. Together, we must continue strengthening an open and inclusive regional architecture that enables all nations to prosper.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Time and tide wait for no nation and history seldom rewards indifference. Progress belongs to those willing to shape events rather than merely react to them. When Penang embarked on its industrial transformation in the 1970s, Japanese firms helped lay the foundations for it to become one of Asia's leading electronics and semiconductor hubs. The relationship was built not simply on investment, but on confidence, partnership, and a shared belief in long-term development.

Today, that spirit remains highly relevant, and must continue to ride on the mantra of proactivity over passivity. Thus, when the future of the Trans Pacific Partnership was cast into doubt, Japan stepped forward to sustain the initiative and transform it into the CPTPP, widely regarded as the gold standard for modern trade treaties.

Likewise, when regional economic integration faced uncertainty, ASEAN members, including Malaysia, worked with Japan and other Dialogue Partners to bring the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership into force, creating the world's largest free trade agreement by population and economic scale.

But the task before us is far from complete. The next chapter of regional cooperation will not be defined solely by market access. It will be defined by our ability to strengthen economic resilience, and build trusted supply chains. The challenge is how effectively we can accelerate the energy transition, harness artificial intelligence responsibly, and ensure that technological progress benefits all rather than a privileged few.

In this regard, while much has been pondered on the future of the Indo Pacific, this much is clear: It cannot be built solely on strategic concepts. It must be anchored in practical cooperation that delivers tangible benefits to our peoples.

Above all, this is preconditioned on a relationship of mutual trust, a genuine aspiration and political will to ensure mutual benefits to be derived from economic collaboration. The crucial imperative of “geoeconomic transparency” in dealing with one’s partner cannot be overstressed.

In this vein, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, Japan's vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework reflect a common recognition: that prosperity, resilience, and stability are deeply interconnected. The challenge before us is therefore not to create ever more frameworks, but to ensure that existing initiatives produce meaningful outcomes. Frameworks must be matched by strong leadership, resolute commitment, and decisive action.

This is where Malaysia and Japan can make a meaningful contribution. In semiconductors, Malaysia's growing strengths in assembly, testing, and advanced packaging complement Japan's leadership in materials, equipment, and advanced manufacturing. Together, we have an opportunity to build more resilient and integrated technology ecosystems at a time when supply chains face increasing pressures.

In energy, our partnership can contribute to Asia’s transition towards a lower-carbon future while maintaining economic growth and energy security. Through initiatives such as the Asia Zero Emission Community, we are demonstrating that sustainability and development need not be competing objectives.

In the digital economy and artificial intelligence, we must work together to ensure that innovation remains people-centred and inclusive, creating opportunities rather than deepening inequalities. Growth, not stagnation, empowerment, not subjugation,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

The sailors of old could not predict every storm. They could not control the currents, nor could they see beyond every horizon. What they possessed was a clear sense of direction.

Today, our world does not suffer from a shortage of power. It suffers from a shortage of clarity. Clarity that institutions must be reformed and renewed, rather than abandoned. Clarity that cooperation remains preferable to division. And, clarity that leadership requires initiative, not resignation.

If we remain guided by these principles, I earnestly believe we can transform today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities.

Malaysia stands ready to work with Japan, with ASEAN, and with all like minded partners who believe that peace is sustained through dialogue, prosperity is built through openness, and progress is achieved through cooperation. Together, let us navigate this strategic uncertainty and chart the path forward.

Thank you.