Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul joined Cambodian leaders on Sunday at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur to sign a historic peace agreement, officially ending a recent five-day military conflict between the two nations.
The accord, which aims to end hostilities and establish lasting stability, was brokered with the involvement of the United States. US President Donald Trump was present to witness and co-sign the ceasefire pact alongside the two leaders.
During the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Charnvirakul expressed gratitude to President Trump for his personal dedication to the peace process. “I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for your personal dedication to peace between our two countries,” the Thai PM said.
President Trump, in turn, called the agreement a “momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia.”
Under the terms of the accord, Thailand has agreed to release 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in custody. Furthermore, both nations have begun the process of withdrawing heavy weapons from their 800-kilometre shared border, a region that has long been prone to sporadic clashes.
The peace ceremony underscores Washington’s continued engagement in Southeast Asia, with President Trump reaffirming the US commitment to promoting peace and regional security as he concluded the first leg of his Asian tour. Following Malaysia, the President is scheduled to travel to Japan to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, then to South Korea for the APEC CEO Summit and a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung. A crucial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to focus on trade, rare earth exports, and fentanyl cooperation.