Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint declaration on Sunday in Malaysia pledging an end to hostilities along their long-disputed border, with U.S. President Donald Trump presiding over the ceremony as a key witness. The agreement, dubbed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, was inked on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit, amid a backdrop of U.S. flags and the bold words “Delivering Peace.” Photographs capturing the leaders holding up the document.
The signing brought together Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, flanked by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Trump, fresh off a dramatic arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport complete with his signature dance alongside local performers, hailed the event as a “momentous day for all the people of Southeast Asia.” In a brief address, he praised the “courageous leadership” of both Southeast Asian premiers, crediting his administration’s “tireless efforts” and a series of late-night phone calls for turning the tide. “The world needs leaders who are willing to champion peace,” Trump declared, adding that the deal could “save millions of lives.”
The accord builds on a temporary ceasefire established in July following the deadliest clashes between the two nations in decades. That five-day eruption of violence near the ancient Preah Vihear temple— a UNESCO World Heritage site awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 but fiercely contested by Thai nationalists—claimed over 40 lives and displaced around 300,000 people. Artillery exchanges and skirmishes displaced families, shuttered border trade, and raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Trump’s intervention came swiftly: He threatened to halt ongoing tariff negotiations and impose economic penalties unless both sides stood down, a move that U.S. officials described as leveraging America’s vast trade influence in the region.
Under the new declaration, Thailand has committed to releasing 18 detained Cambodian soldiers captured during the July fighting, while Cambodia will withdraw heavy artillery from the contested zone. The agreement also calls for joint de-mining operations, the installation of temporary border markers, and the deployment of ASEAN observers, including Malaysian teams, to monitor compliance. Both nations have pledged to combat cross-border scam syndicates and narcotics trafficking, issues that have plagued the porous frontier. Hun Manet, son of longtime Cambodian leader Hun Sen, thanked Trump for his “decisive lead”.
Charnvirakul, speaking more cautiously amid domestic nationalist pressures in Thailand, stated that the deal was a bilateral achievement “facilitated” by the U.S. and Malaysia, rather than full-scale mediation. Bangkok has long insisted on resolving the border issue without external interference, viewing the temple and surrounding areas as integral to its cultural heritage. The timing of the signing was poignant: It was advanced by several hours to accommodate Charnvirakul’s abbreviated schedule following the death of Thailand’s revered Queen Mother on Saturday, prompting nationwide mourning. Charnvirakul immediately left Malaysia after the signing for ceremonial events in Bangkok.
The Preah Vihear dispute traces back over a century, rooted in colonial-era French mapping that left ambiguous boundaries between the former Indochinese territories. Flare-ups have been cyclical, deadly in 2008 and 2011, when shelling killed dozens, often fueled by domestic politics. Analysts note that economic interdependence, with bilateral trade exceeding $10 billion annually, has long tempered outright war, but unresolved sovereignty claims keep the powder keg primed.
Trump’s role shows his “America First” pivot toward assertive diplomacy in Asia, where he has touted similar brokered truces as part of a Nobel campaign. The visit yielded immediate dividends beyond peace: Within hours of landing, he finalized reciprocal trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, a critical minerals pact with Thailand to counter Chinese dominance in rare earths, and frameworks for negotiations with Vietnam. Tariffs on exports from these nations will hover around 19-20%, but Trump promised “robust” commerce “as long as they live in peace.” The deals, announced amid the summit, aim to secure U.S. supply chains for semiconductors and electric vehicles, while deepening defense ties, particularly with Thailand, a longstanding ally.
As Trump departed the ceremony for further summit engagements—and an upcoming Asia tour—the images of the signing lingered, a snapshot of fragile optimism in a region shadowed by great-power rivalries. Whether the accords endure, or fade like past truces, will test the ink’s staying power against the pull of history.
