Trump witnesses Thailand and Cambodia sign peace agreement
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet signed a joint "peace agreement" on Sunday, witnessed by US President Donald Trump, BBC reports.
This breakthrough signifies a major step toward de-escalation of the long-standing Thailand-Cambodia border conflict.
As BBC correspondents noted, before the signing, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia preferred not to call it a "peace agreement." The official document was more cautiously titled: "Joint Declaration on Relations."
Based on data leaked to the press, the document outlines the initial steps for conflict de-escalation. These include the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and joint actions for border demarcation and demining.
In the first phase, Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners, and Cambodia will begin the withdrawal of heavy artillery. Regional observers are tasked with monitoring the situation to ensure that fighting does not resume. The implementation of this new ceasefire is key.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called the event "a historic day." Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement creates the "basis for a lasting peace."
The ceremony was the first event attended by Trump after his arrival at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, AP reports. The signing of the Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement was a key moment at the Trump Asia summit.
Trump's trip, which will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and a possible meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is an opportunity to consolidate his reputation as an international negotiator. This comes at a time when his tariffs have roiled the international economy and he faces a domestic showdown with Democrats over a US government shutdown.
Thailand and Cambodia fought for five days in July, resulting in dozens killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The two countries have competing territorial claims, and violence periodically erupts along their border.
Trump had threatened at the time to suspend trade agreements if the fighting did not cease. This demonstration of economic influence stimulated negotiations. Since then, a fragile truce has persisted.
Following the signing of the broader ceasefire pact on Sunday, Donald Trump signed separate economic agreements with Cambodia and Thailand.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
