The world has overwhelmingly welcomed the fragile Middle East peace deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. But in Southeast Asia, home to fast-growing economies and a vital pillar of Indo-Pacific security, that relief is tinged with skepticism.
Islam is the faith of nearly half of the region’s more than 600 million people, so solidarity with Palestinians has always meant that American support for Israel is a politically fraught issue.
Now, those concerns are spreading beyond religious lines. From Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta to Bangkok, anger over the destruction in Gaza has deepened doubts about whether Washington has different standards for how it applies international law. Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia have voiced frustration with what they view as Washington’s unquestioning support of Tel Aviv.
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