Kuala Lumpur: U.S. President Donald Trump praised his own knack for negotiating peace agreements on Saturday, as he addressed a high-profile ceremony in Malaysia marking the expected signing of a peace accord between Cambodia and Thailand.
Standing before a crowd of diplomats, regional leaders, and journalists, Trump struck a self-congratulatory tone, describing peace-brokering as one of his greatest strengths.
“I love doing it. I love … it’s like, I shouldn’t say it’s a hobby, because it’s so much more serious than a hobby but it’s something that I’m good at, and it’s something I love to do,” he told attendees.
Trump recalled that the simmering Thailand–Cambodia conflict, which reignited in July, was “one of the first wars” he personally “got involved in.”
The president contrasted his approach with that of international institutions, adding pointedly, “The United Nations should be doing this but they don’t do it.”
The border clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces, which erupted in mid-July over disputed territory, left dozens dead and displaced thousands along both sides of the frontier. The violence was widely condemned as a flashpoint threatening regional stability in Southeast Asia.
Trump took credit for the de-escalation, referencing his direct intervention during the summer. According to the president, a ceasefire agreement reached in Malaysia on July 28 followed a series of tense calls he held with leaders from both nations. He claimed to have warned them that continued hostilities would jeopardize trade relations with the United States.
“You have to make peace sometimes by being tough,” Trump said. “We made it clear no peace, no deals.”
The signing of the formal peace accord in Kuala Lumpur marks a major milestone after months of diplomatic maneuvering. Trump has frequently touted his role in what he calls “un-endable wars,” framing his foreign policy as one that favors pragmatic deal-making over prolonged intervention.
Regional analysts say the accord, if upheld, could stabilize one of Southeast Asia’s most volatile borders and potentially open new avenues for U.S. influence in the region — a point Trump himself hinted at.
“We bring peace, not just for America, but for the world,” he said. “And that’s something we’re proud of.”
The ceremony concluded with applause as Cambodian and Thai representatives prepared to sign the long-awaited agreement an outcome Trump described as “a victory for common sense, strength, and peace through leadership.”