U.S. President Donald Trump is set to witness the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia at a regional summit in Malaysia, signaling a diplomatic achievement he partially brokered following recent deadly clashes.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan confirmed Trump’s anticipated presence at the signing ceremony. The event is scheduled to take place during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26-28.
The agreement seeks to de-escalate tensions that erupted into the most severe military clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in decades last July. The fighting resulted in more than 40 deaths and forced approximately 300,000 civilians to evacuate their homes.
President Trump was partially instrumental in mediating a ceasefire after five days of intense combat. This intervention earned him a previous nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who cited Trump’s “innovative diplomacy.”
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also recently acknowledged receiving a letter from the U.S. leader. The letter expressed Trump’s desire to see the two neighboring countries resolve their long-standing tensions.
Despite the earlier ceasefire agreement, both sides have since periodically exchanged accusations of violating the truce. The upcoming signing aims to solidify a more lasting peace.