On his Asia tour, US President Donald Trump officially co-signed a significant ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia, marking the first leg of his trip that will lead him to discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
This landmark deal was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, right alongside Trump and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, following a violent border conflict earlier this year.
According to the Cambodian foreign ministry, this agreement will lead to the humanitarian release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war.
Initially, a ceasefire was agreed upon at the end of July—this was something that Trump partly facilitated. However, since then, both countries have exchanged accusations of breaches in the ceasefire.
Upon his arrival in Malaysia, Trump touted the agreement, calling it a ‘great peace deal that I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand.’
At the signing, he emphasized, ‘This is a monumental step,’ congratulating Anutin and Hun for their efforts towards peace.
Despite the progress, analysts warn that a full and comprehensive peace treaty between the neighboring Southeast Asian nations is yet to be completed.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, an active participant in the negotiations on behalf of ASEAN, highlighted that this agreement aims to establish regional observers in the contested border areas.
‘Our goal is to eliminate any further ceasefire breaches, as there were minor violations even after the truce began on July 28,’ Mohamad noted.
‘It’s crucial for both nations to pull back their heavy weaponry from those areas, in addition to working on the removal and destruction of mines planted along their borders.’
