Trump brokers signing of 'historic' Thailand-Cambodia peace deal: 'We saved maybe millions of lives'

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: President Donald Trump has brokered a landmark expanded ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, effectively ending a decades-long border conflict that has claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The historic deal was signed on Saturday, October 24, 2025, during the Annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, where Trump watched Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul formally seal the agreement.

Trump uses tariff threat to end deadly border clashes

The ceasefire, hailed as a breakthrough for Southeast Asia, came after weeks of intense fighting along the disputed 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier between the two countries. Trump reportedly leveraged the threat of higher US tariffs on both nations to pressure them into ending the conflict.

Speaking ahead of the signing ceremony, Trump called it a momentous day and said, "This is so exciting because we did something that a lot of people said couldn't be done. And we saved maybe millions of lives on this one piece deal itself. And I'll tell you what makes me so happy is the two countries we're dealing with and the third that helped so much, I appreciate so much. Maybe it couldn't have been done without you, but they really like each other. I'm not used to that."

"When I do these deals. Usually there's a lot of hatred. They liked each other, so it made it a little bit easier. But millions of people are alive today because of this peace treaty," he said.

Officials confirmed the agreement includes the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner in Thailand and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the border region. The move is expected to de-escalate tensions that had reignited in recent months after decades of simmering disputes.

Hun Manet and Anutin Charnvirakul call it a ‘historic day’

Both leaders expressed optimism about the peace accord, which regional analysts say could reset relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

“This is a historic day,” said Hun Manet, praising Trump for his mediation role and urging both nations to focus on rebuilding and prosperity.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai Prime Minister, echoed the sentiment, calling the ceasefire the building blocks for a lasting peace.

The agreement represents a rare diplomatic win for both nations, as well as for Trump, who has long branded himself as a master negotiator on the global stage.

A major foreign policy win for Trump amid tensions at home

The signing ceremony also marked Trump’s first official event upon his arrival at the ASEAN summit. Beyond brokering peace, Trump finalized two new trade deals - one with Cambodia and Malaysia, and another focused on critical minerals with Thailand, signaling deeper economic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.

The ceasefire comes at a time when Trump faces mounting pressure at home over a government shutdown and a series of budget standoffs with Democrats in Congress. His diplomatic victory in Asia, however, offers a powerful counter-narrative reinforcing his image as a ‘deal-first’ president who can deliver global stability through economic leverage.

Trump’s Asia trip continues with key stops in Japan and South Korea

Following the Kuala Lumpur summit, Trump is set to travel to Japan and South Korea, with a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the cards.

White House officials have framed the visit as a crucial step in strengthening US influence in the region, particularly as tensions with Beijing continue to rise.