Kuala Lumpur: At the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, U.S. President Donald Trump lauded the peaceful resolution of tensions between Thailand and Cambodia while drawing sharp contrasts with ongoing global conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the volatile situation in the Middle East.
During the signing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, Trump praised Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for the mutual respect and cooperation they demonstrated throughout negotiations. “What makes me so happy is the two countries we’re dealing with … they really like each other. I’m not used to that. When I do these deals, usually there’s a lot of hatred,” he remarked, highlighting the rarity of such collaborative diplomacy.
The peace agreement comes after a violent five-day border conflict in July that displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and claimed dozens of lives. Observers from ASEAN nations will now be deployed to monitor compliance and ensure that the accord endures, according to Trump. He emphasized that this situation differs significantly from other fragile ceasefires, notably between Israel and Hamas, or the persistent animosity between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Alongside the peace agreement, President Trump announced significant economic initiatives aimed at strengthening U.S. relations with Southeast Asia. “We also are signing a major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand,” Trump said, underscoring the linkage between peace and prosperity. The trade deal with Cambodia is expected to enhance commerce and infrastructure collaboration, while the minerals agreement with Thailand will secure essential resources for industries such as electronics and renewable energy.
Trump credited U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for spearheading the negotiations, calling him “the foremost expert on trade.” He further indicated that the U.S. will continue its diplomatic and economic engagement in the region, with planned stops in Japan and South Korea, as well as discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping focusing primarily on trade and economic cooperation rather than conflict.
By framing the Thailand-Cambodia accord as a model of effective diplomacy, Trump sought to present it as an example of how constructive dialogue and mutual respect can yield tangible results, contrasting sharply with more intractable international disputes. Analysts suggest that this dual approach linking peace agreements to economic incentives reflects a broader U.S. strategy to secure influence and stability in Southeast Asia while promoting American trade interests.