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Donald Trump presided over the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday in Malaysia, marking the official end of one of the deadliest conflicts between the two countries in over a decade. Speaking on the first day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, Mr Trump said the conflict had been “very nasty” but was resolved “very quickly”. The fighting first broke out over a long-standing border dispute in May and persisted into June and July, killing at least 48 people and displacing hundreds of thousands of others. A ceasefire was brokered in late July and formalised on Sunday morning by Hun Manet, the prime minister of Cambodia, Anutin Charnvirakul, the prime minister of Thailand, Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and Mr Trump during the biannual regional leaders’ summit. Mr Trump congratulated his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, who were seated at the table next to him, for being “two courageous leaders”. “Both countries are agreeing to cease all hostilities and work to build good, neighbourly relationships, which have already started,” said Mr Trump. While Malaysia was the primary negotiator, Mr Trump has taken credit for helping to broker the ceasefire by threatening to end tariff negotiations with Thailand and Cambodia. He claimed once again that the border conflict was “one of eight wars” that he has resolved since he took office in January. During his speech, Mr Trump also said he called Mr Ibrahim immediately after the conflict broke out and told him he had to be involved in brokering peace. The US president said he had been in the middle of a round of golf at his resort in Turnberry at the time but this was “much more important”. While Mr Trump has routinely touted his role in the peace negotiations and joined in the signing, Thai foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow seemed to play down that there was a third party mediator involved, telling reporters that it was ultimately “the two sides that had to work”, referring to Cambodia and Thailand. Cambodia has praised Mr Trump’s role in resolving the conflict, even nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize, which Mr Manet repeated during the signing ceremony. Mr Trump said he felt “an obligation” to preside over the signing of the peace deal, which he referred to as the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, in person, which is why he stopped over in Malaysia on Sunday for one day. Mr Trump will fly to Japan on Sunday evening for a two-day visit before continuing to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum where he will meet with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president. The peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia will consist of several parts, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border, the release of Cambodian prisoners. Mr Sihasak said the commanders in chief of Thailand and Cambodia met on Saturday and are now rolling out the first stage of the agreement, which will involve withdrawing heavy weapons from the border and demining. Mr Charnvirakul, of Thailand, also said that removing heavy weapons from the border areas will “ensure the safety of our people” and “build confidence and trust”. These efforts will be monitored by an Asean observer team to instil confidence in both sides and ensure that the components of the deal are fulfilled. After this, Thailand will “begin the process” of releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers – a key part of the deal – said Mr Sihasak. Mr Trump said the US also signed a “major trade deal” with Cambodia and a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals with Thailand, which will be maintained as long as the two countries “live in peace”. The critical minerals will include the “transfer of technology” and strengthening the external supply chain, added Mr Sihasak. Mr Charnvirakul also announced that Thailand and the US were working towards a reciprocal trade agreement to “facilitate our negotiations on tariffs”.
