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The US State Department praised President Trump as "President of Peace" after Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire, highlighting his role in promoting stability and economic agreements in Southeast Asia.
Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement during a ceremony attended by Donald Trump. (Photo: @StateDept/X)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 27, 2025 03:26 IST
The US State Department posted a photo of President Donald Trump on Sunday with the caption: “President of Peace.” The tribute came as Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement during a ceremony attended by Trump, whose earlier threats of economic pressure helped prod the two nations to halt skirmishes along their disputed border earlier this year.
Under the first phase of the deal, Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners, and Cambodia will begin withdrawing heavy artillery. Regional observers will monitor the situation to ensure fighting does not restart.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the move on X, writing: “The work of the President of Peace continues. Thanks to @POTUS’s leadership and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s efforts, there is now a path to peace, stability, and prosperity for Southeast Asia. Congratulations to Cambodia and Thailand on the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.”
The ceremony marked Trump’s first event after arriving at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur. His trip, which will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is seen as an opportunity for Trump to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker amid ongoing trade tensions and a looming government shutdown back home.
Trump arrived in Malaysia shortly before 2:00 a.m. GMT, performing his signature campaign trail dance with local performers while waving both American and Malaysian flags. The summit offered him a fresh chance to play global peacemaker; he attended ASEAN only once during his first term.
Thailand and Cambodia experienced five days of intense fighting in July, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced—the worst clashes in recent memory along the two countries’ disputed border. Trump had threatened to withhold trade agreements unless hostilities ceased, a display of economic leverage credited with prompting negotiations. A shaky truce had persisted since then.
Following the expanded ceasefire, Trump also signed separate economic deals with Cambodia and Thailand, reinforcing his role as a broker of both peace and trade in the region.
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Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Oct 27, 2025
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