Cambodia and Thailand formalized an expansion of the ceasefire agreement that ended their summer border conflict on Sunday, signing a landmark “Joint Declaration” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped broker the initial cessation of hostilities, was present to witness the signing, which he dubbed the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.”
The agreement, signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, aims to establish lasting peace along their disputed border after a summer of deadly clashes.
“There was a lot of killing. And then we got it stopped, very quickly,” President Trump said before the signing ceremony, underscoring his role in ending the violence.
Key Terms and Peace Implementation
The expanded agreement lays out several key steps for de-escalation and confidence-building:
- Prisoner Release: Thailand committed to promptly release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner.
- Military De-escalation: Both nations agreed to begin removing heavy and destructive weapons from the border area and returning them to military installations.
- Observer Team: The leaders signed a Terms of Reference (TOR) to establish an ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), comprised of personnel from ASEAN member states, to ensure the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire.
- Other Commitments: The declaration also includes pledges to coordinate humanitarian de-mining in border areas, refrain from disseminating harmful rhetoric, and work towards the restoration of diplomatic relations.
READ: Kamala Harris Hints At Potential 2028 Presidential Run: “I’m Not Done” With Politics
Prime Minister Anutin called the declaration the “building blocks for lasting peace,” adding that it will “begin the process of mending our ties.” Prime Minister Hun Manet heralded the day as a “historic moment of profound significance,” affirming that “peace is always possible when nations have the courage and wisdom to pursue it together.”
Trump Secures Economic Deals Amidst Peace Push
President Trump’s presence at the ceremony marked his first event after arriving for the regional summit. He used the occasion to highlight his broader diplomatic and economic engagement, announcing that he had signed new economic agreements with both Cambodia and Thailand, and later concluded a deal with Malaysia.
The peace ceremony was attended by a host of international dignitaries, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Japan’s newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The attendance of leaders from outside the immediate region underscores the global significance of resolving the decades-long border dispute.
The agreement, officially a “Joint Declaration by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” formalizes a process intended to move beyond the ceasefire reached in July and create a sustainable, peaceful framework for resolving differences.
The leaders expressed “deep appreciation” for President Trump’s “significant contributions” to advancing the restoration of productive bilateral relations.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
