Sun Oct 26 06:41:32 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thailand and Cambodia Sign Enhanced Ceasefire Agreement Under US Auspices

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on Sunday, aiming to solidify peace following deadly border clashes in July. The signing, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, was witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who co-signed the agreement alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The agreement builds upon a truce reached three months prior, when Trump reportedly used the threat of increased tariffs to de-escalate five days of conflict that resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.

“We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done,” Trump stated during the ceremony, marking his first trip to Asia since his return to the White House.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hailed the agreement as creating “the building blocks for a lasting peace,” while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet described it as a “historic day.”

The initial phase of the agreement includes the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers by Thailand and the removal of heavy weaponry from the contested border region. Malaysian troops are slated to be deployed to ensure the ceasefire holds. The 800-kilometer (500-mile) border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a site of territorial disputes for decades.

Following the ceasefire signing, Trump also inked separate economic deals with Cambodia and Thailand, focusing on reciprocal trade with Phnom Penh and critical minerals with Bangkok.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised the agreement, stating that it “reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage.”

While the agreement has been met with optimism, some experts remain cautious. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Sa Kaeo, Thailand, noted that the agreement largely reinforces existing accords. He also highlighted concerns from Thai locals, some of whom are still constructing bomb shelters, indicating underlying anxieties about the potential for renewed conflict.

Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh’s Future Forum think tank, suggested that the threat of tariffs played a significant role in bringing the fighting to an end. He added that the ceremony offers Trump an opportunity to showcase his peacemaking abilities, potentially bolstering his bid for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The details and implementation of the agreement will be closely watched as both nations seek a lasting resolution to the long-standing border dispute.

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