Bangkok: Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday formalised an expanded ceasefire pact to end violent border clashes during a ceremony witnessed by US President Donald Trump.
The agreement follows months of tension and comes after Trump’s warnings of economic pressure pushed the two Southeast Asian nations to step back from escalating conflict.
As per the agreement, Cambodia will start removing heavy artillery from the disputed border, and Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners. Regional observers will oversee the truce to ensure that peace is maintained.
Trump hailed the accord as a diplomatic success, declaring, “Both countries agreed to cease all hostilities and build a good neighbourly relationship.”
He added, “My administration immediately began working to prevent conflict from escalating,” crediting U.S. diplomatic efforts for helping broker the peace.
While speaking to the media, Trump said, “We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done".
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a “historic day”, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said it laid the “building blocks for a lasting peace”.
The signing took place during Trump’s visit to the ASEAN summit, his first since his initial term, where he sought to reinforce his reputation as a global dealmaker. Following the truce ceremony, Trump also signed separate economic agreements with both Cambodia and Thailand and is expected to unveil additional trade and mineral partnerships with Malaysia later in the summit.