President Donald Trump will champion a peace solution between Thailand and Cambodia at the Malaysia summit, marking what he considers a major diplomatic victory. The US president announced his role while traveling aboard Air Force One to attend the 47th ASEAN summit.
The peace solution addresses a border conflict that escalated into violence in July 2025, when Thai and Cambodian military forces engaged in five days of intense fighting along their disputed frontier. The clashes resulted in fatalities and forced thousands of civilians to abandon their homes on both sides of the border, creating an urgent humanitarian situation.
Malaysia successfully mediated between the warring parties and negotiated a ceasefire that was implemented in late July 2025, effectively ending the active phase of the conflict. The Malaysian government has maintained its peacekeeping role by coordinating ASEAN observer missions that continue to monitor the truce and ensure both nations comply with the terms of the cessation of hostilities.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump stated that he would champion the peace solution immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia to accommodate all the dignitaries attending this major diplomatic event. Trump also expressed condolences for the death of Thailand’s Queen Mother and confirmed he would meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister upon landing. The ceremony will be witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders.
The championed peace solution builds on recent diplomatic breakthroughs achieved during a two-day special meeting of the Cambodia-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary held in Chanthaburi, Thailand, on October 21-22. During these discussions, both nations reached several key agreements aimed at expediting the land demarcation process along their more than 800-kilometer shared border. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has stated that both sides are moving closer to finalizing a comprehensive Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations to permanently resolve border issues. The territorial dispute has historically centered on competing claims to ancient Hindu temple sites in the Dangrek Mountains, with the most serious previous incident occurring in 2011 when clashes near Preah Vihear temple resulted in at least 16 deaths.
Trump to Champion Thailand-Cambodia Peace Solution at Malaysia Summit
