President Donald Trump will confirm the transformation of Thailand-Cambodia relations through a peace agreement at the Malaysia summit, marking what he describes as a historic diplomatic shift. The US president announced his role while traveling aboard Air Force One to the 47th ASEAN summit.
The peace transformation 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 evacuate their homes on both sides of the border, underscoring the urgent need for transformative diplomatic action.
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 Thailand and Cambodia adhere to the terms of the cessation of hostilities.
In a Truth Social post from Air Force One, President Trump announced that the peace transformation confirmation would take place immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia to accommodate all the dignitaries attending this significant diplomatic event. Trump also expressed sympathy for Thailand following the death of the Queen Mother and confirmed plans to meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister upon landing. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders will witness the confirmation.
The confirmed peace transformation 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.
