United States President Donald Trump will orchestrate the finale of the Thailand-Cambodia peace process at the Malaysian summit, bringing formal closure to what he calls a “great peace deal” that he brokered. The orchestration will take place during the 47th ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
The peace finale comes after a serious escalation of the border dispute in July 2025, when Thai and Cambodian military forces clashed for five consecutive days along their contested frontier. The violent confrontation resulted in casualties and created a displacement crisis as thousands of people fled their homes near the border, demonstrating the urgent need for peace.
Malaysia successfully mediated between the two nations 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 honor the terms of the cessation of hostilities.
President Trump announced via Truth Social while aboard Air Force One that the peace finale orchestration would occur immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia. This schedule is intended to accommodate the numerous international leaders attending this historic diplomatic event, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders. 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.
The orchestrated peace finale represents the culmination of intensive diplomatic work, including recent progress made during a two-day special meeting of the Cambodia-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary held in Chanthaburi, Thailand, in late October. 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 countries are close to finalizing a Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations designed to permanently resolve border issues. The territorial dispute has historically focused on ancient Hindu temple sites in the Dangrek Mountains, with previous serious violence in 2011 near Preah Vihear temple resulting in at least 16 deaths and UN Security Council involvement.
