US President Donald Trump has overseen the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is the first stop in Trump’s five-day Asia tour, which also includes Japan and South Korea, in his first visit to the region since returning to the White House in January 2025.
Cambodia-Thailand Accord
Shortly after his arrival in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, Trump attended the signing ceremony for an expanded ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Back in July, the two Asian neighbors engaged in border clashes, after a land mine exploded and injured 5 Thai soldiers, with both countries accusing each other of starting the conflict. As a result, Trump intervened to ease tensions, threatening both Cambodia and Thailand with economic pressures if they did not end hostilities.
Trump’s mediation efforts led to a ceasefire between the two nations, negotiated in Malaysia on July 26 following five days of clashes which killed at least 43 fatalities and displaced over 300,000 people on both sides of the border.
Ceasefire Details
During the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners. Moreover, the two countries will start withdrawing heavy artillery from the border area and cooperate on removing landmines. Observers will monitor the situation to make sure tensions do not rise again.
On this occasion, Trump celebrated the deal, saying: “We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done.” He also said that the US will “have robust commerce and cooperation, transactions, lots of them, with both nations, as long as they live in peace.”
The Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Manet, celebrated the occasion as a “historic day,” while the Thai Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, called the agreement “the building blocks for a lasting peace.”
ASEAN Summit
Trump arrived in Malaysia to participate in the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In addition to reinforcing his image as an international dealmaker, the US President used the summit to engage with Asian economies worth $3.8 trillion and forge trade deals.
“The United States is with you 100%, and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come,” Trump said, calling his counterparts “spectacular leaders.”
Trump signed economic agreements with Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, as the US is trying to reduce reliance on China. These included critical mines deals with Thailand and Malaysia, in addition to a broader trade deal with Cambodia.
“It’s very important that we cooperate as willing partners with each other to ensure that we can have smooth supply chains, secure supply chains, for the quality of life, for our people and security,” the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, said.
Trade Talks
Trump Asian tour focuses on trade talks, as he is set to meet with key leaders. The US President is expected to meet with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to discuss US tariffs on Brazilian goods and military strikes off South America’s coast.
Another high-stakes meeting in South Korea will be with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, amid an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing. On his way to Malaysia, Trump voiced optimism about reaching a deal. “I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal,” he said.
The US and Chinese negotiators are already engaged in trade talks, with Greer touting progress, setting the stage for Trump-Xi summit later this week.
Similarly, the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said that Washington and Beijing could refrain from escalating their trade war. He also suggested the two countries could extend the trade truce they forged earlier, but said the final decision is up to Trump.
The US President suggested he would finalize trade deals with Japan and South Korea. “We have deals with a lot of people and they’re very good deals,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. However, he excluded Canada, announcing he would impose higher tariffs on the country in response to a TV ad criticizing Trump’s duties.
