A territorial dispute between the two South Asian nations led to armed clashes earlier this year.
Cambodia and Thailand have signed an extended ceasefire to end a deadly border standoff that broke out earlier this year. Sunday’s signing ceremony was overseen by US President Donald Trump, who negotiated the opening ceremony.
Long-standing tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, rooted in colonial-era border disputes, erupted in July when both sides exchanged gunfire for five days and hundreds of thousands fled the border area. Then a meeting hosted by Malaysia brought to light a truth: the first step to ending the crisis. Trump later said he used trade talks with both nations to push for a reduction in tension.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the expanded ceasefire on Sunday at the 47th ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
Building on the July truce, it establishes a framework to ease tensions and ensure lasting peace along the border. The deal requires Thailand to release 18 captured Cambodian soldiers and for both sides to remove heavy weapons, begin demining and curb illegal cross-border activities.
After the signing, the Thai prime minister said that weapons removals at the border would begin. “immediately,” along with the release of Cambodian prisoners of war, and announced a joint trade framework. His Cambodian counterpart praised the agreement and promised to keep it, thanking Trump for his role. He added that he had nominated the US president for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
The US president also praised the agreement. “monumental” and “historical.” He also highlighted his own role in the deal and told reporters that he was very good at making “peace agreements” and that was all “Almost a hobby.” After the ceremony, Trump signed a reciprocal trade deal with Cambodia and a critical minerals deal with Thailand.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for resolving various conflicts around the world. He cited his peace plan for Gaza as his eighth success, but has at times muddled his record, falsely claiming to have resolved non-existent disputes between Albania and Azerbaijan and between Armenia and Cambodia. However, he welcomed this year’s award to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, congratulating her and highlighting her past support for her cause.
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