President Donald Trump will authorize a peace protocol between Thailand and Cambodia during his visit to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN summit. The US president has described himself as the proud broker of this “great peace deal” that aims to resolve a territorial conflict that has persisted for decades.
The peace protocol responds to violent border clashes that erupted in July 2025 between Thai and Cambodian forces along their disputed frontier. The five-day military confrontation resulted in loss of life and displaced thousands of civilians on both sides, highlighting the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to prevent further bloodshed.
Malaysia played a key mediating role and successfully negotiated a ceasefire that was implemented in late July 2025. The Malaysian government has maintained its peacekeeping efforts by coordinating ASEAN observer missions that continue to monitor the border areas and ensure both Thailand and Cambodia comply with the terms of the truce.
While aboard Air Force One, President Trump announced via Truth Social that the peace protocol authorization would take place immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia. The expedited schedule is designed to accommodate the large number of world leaders and officials attending this significant event, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders. Trump also expressed condolences for the recent death of Thailand’s Queen Mother and stated he would meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister upon landing.
The authorized peace protocol represents the culmination of months of 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.