Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur: Thailand and Cambodia, on Sunday, signed a joint declaration on a peace deal in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This marks a formal step toward halting hostilities and restoring peace along their disputed border through the agreement, beind dubbed as “KL PEACE Accord”.
It was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The summit began today (Oct 26) under the chair of Malaysia.
“This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand,” Trump said.
The US president also co-signed the document, which outlines terms for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of troops, and the release of captured soldiers.
As part of the agreement, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner, while both nations have agreed to pull back heavy weapons from their shared border. The five-day conflict in July had left dozens dead and forced thousands to flee villages near the frontier.
Sources quoted in media reports said Trump used economic leverage, including the threat of higher tariffs on both nations, to push for the truce. His involvement comes amid his ongoing Asia tour, where he has highlighted the US’s renewed interest in stabilising regional tensions.
The disputed 800-kilometre border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a longstanding flashpoint, with both countries claiming sections near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple. While earlier confrontations were limited, this year’s clashes were among the most intense in decades.
The peace deal is being hailed as a landmark step toward regional stability, with ASEAN leaders expressing cautious optimism that the agreement will hold and pave the way for long-term diplomatic cooperation between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
