Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, during a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump. His threats of economic pressure earlier this year pushed the two neighbours to halt deadly skirmishes along their disputed border.
Under the deal’s first phase, Thailand will free Cambodian prisoners while Cambodia begins withdrawing heavy artillery. Regional observers will monitor the border to ensure the truce holds.
“We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done,” Trump said at the signing. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a “historic day,” and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement lays “the building blocks for a lasting peace.”
The event marked Trump’s first engagement since landing in Malaysia for the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. His trip, which also includes Japan and South Korea and may involve a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, offers a high-profile chance to bolster his reputation as a global dealmaker, even as his tariffs disrupt the world economy and he battles Democrats over a government shutdown back home.
Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur shortly before 0200 GMT, performing his familiar campaign-style dance with local performers and waving both American and Malaysian flags upon arrival.
He is expected to sign trade and critical mineral agreements later Sunday as Washington seeks to diversify supply chains away from China, which has restricted exports of key technology components.
The visit underscores Trump’s renewed attention to a strategic region. He attended the ASEAN summit only once during his first term, and his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faced criticism in January for appearing unfamiliar with the bloc during his confirmation hearing.
Thailand and Cambodia engaged in five days of intense border clashes in July, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians. The two neighbours have long disputed territory along their frontier, where violence periodically erupts.
Trump warned at the time that trade deals would be withheld unless fighting stopped, a show of leverage widely credited with forcing talks. A fragile truce has held since.
Following Sunday’s expanded ceasefire signing, Trump also concluded separate economic deals with Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
“The fact that Trump was holding the tariff card was actually very, very significant,” said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh’s Future Forum think tank. “That’s probably the main reason, if not the only reason, but definitely the main reason why the two sides agreed immediately to the ceasefire.”
He added that the moment gave Trump a chance to stand “in front of cameras” as a leader who ends conflicts, providing “more ammunition for his bid for Nobel Peace Prize.” Trump has openly sought the honour, often citing conflicts he claims to have resolved.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised the Thailand-Cambodia accord during the summit’s opening ceremony, saying it proves that “reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage.”
Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura described the pact as a “joint declaration” demonstrating both countries’ commitment to repair relations.
“It’s not an end in itself,” Nikorndej said. “Work has just begun.”
Trade tensions also loom over Trump’s regional tour. He plans to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Kuala Lumpur but has ruled out talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney due to a dispute over a television advertisement criticizing his tariffs. Trump announced on social media while en route that he would raise tariffs on Canada in response.
Another major front is the US-China trade war. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was optimistic his upcoming meeting with Xi in South Korea could produce progress on issues including fentanyl trafficking and soybean sales, both priorities for Washington.
