President Donald Trump will sign a comprehensive peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia, calling it a “great peace deal” that he personally brokered. The signing will take place during Trump’s participation in the 47th ASEAN summit, where he will also engage in diplomatic discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The peace deal responds to a serious escalation of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia in July 2025, when military forces from both nations clashed for five consecutive days. The violent confrontation resulted in casualties and created a displacement crisis as thousands of people fled their homes near the contested border areas, prompting urgent calls for international mediation.
Through Malaysia’s diplomatic efforts, a ceasefire was successfully negotiated and implemented in late July 2025, effectively halting the fighting. Malaysia has continued to play a central role in maintaining peace by coordinating ASEAN observer teams that monitor the border situation and ensure both Thailand and Cambodia adhere to the terms of the truce.
From Air Force One, President Trump announced via Truth Social that the peace deal signing would occur immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia, a schedule designed to accommodate the large number of world leaders and officials attending this historic event. Trump also expressed condolences for the recent passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother and stated he would meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister shortly after landing. The ceremony will be witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders.
The peace agreement builds on recent diplomatic breakthroughs, including agreements reached 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 talks, 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 indicated that both sides are nearing completion of a Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations designed to comprehensively resolve the border situation. The territorial dispute has historically focused on competing claims to ancient Hindu temples 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 and UN Security Council involvement.