US President Donald Trump on Sunday oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia, following months of deadly clashes along their shared border.
The deal, described by Trump as “historic,” was signed in Kuala Lumpur by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and the US president.
Clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours in July left more than 40 people dead and forced around 300,000 to flee their homes, marking the worst fighting between the two countries in decades.
The agreement commits both sides to remove heavy weapons and landmines from the conflict zone, establish ASEAN-led ceasefire monitoring teams, and continue dialogue through cross-border committees. It also calls for the release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war and an end to the spread of “false information” that could undermine peace efforts.
“We reaffirm the unwavering commitment to peace and security between our two countries,” the joint declaration read.
Trump congratulated the two leaders, calling the pact “a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia.” He said the truce represented “a monumental step” toward stability in the region and announced new trade and minerals agreements with both countries.
The White House said the US had concluded a critical minerals cooperation deal with Thailand and confirmed tariff concessions for Cambodia under a new trade arrangement.
While the ceasefire outlines steps to de-escalate tensions, analysts say it falls short of resolving the underlying territorial dispute that triggered the conflict — a long-standing disagreement over ownership of ancient temples near the border.
“The border issues have been there for a long time,” said Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor of international and strategic studies at the University of Malaysia. “Any deal between the countries would be more symbolic than substantive.”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet praised Trump’s mediation and reiterated his decision to nominate the US president for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in brokering the truce.
The ceasefire, which follows a fragile July truce that both sides accused each other of violating, is expected to be monitored by regional observers under Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN.