Ceasefire Agreement Announced by Trump

Thailand and Cambodia have reached a ceasefire agreement, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal, described as being achieved “through trade,” aims to end a conflict that has displaced 260,000 people. Trump revealed the agreement on Monday, following discussions with the leaders of both Southeast Asian nations. He emphasized that the U.S. would not resume trade negotiations with Thailand and Cambodia until hostilities ceased.

Origins of the Conflict

The conflict erupted on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the Thailand-Cambodia border injured five Thai soldiers. Both countries accused each other of initiating the clashes, which resulted in at least 35 fatalities and displaced over 260,000 individuals on both sides of the border. Trump highlighted the historical context of intermittent conflicts between the two nations over the past 500 years.

U.S. Involvement and Diplomatic Efforts

During his visit to Scotland, Trump expressed his satisfaction with resolving what he described as a potentially “very nasty war” through diplomatic means. He stated his intention to congratulate the prime ministers of both countries for their cooperation in reaching a peaceful resolution. Trump also mentioned that he instructed his trade team to restart negotiations following the ceasefire agreement.

Future Steps for Sustained Peace

As part of the ceasefire deal, military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to hold talks on Tuesday to further ease tensions. Additionally, Cambodia will host a border committee meeting on August 4, as announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The foreign and defense ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand have been tasked with developing a detailed mechanism to implement and monitor the ceasefire.

International Reactions

The announcement of the ceasefire was met with international approval. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the declaration on social media, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Trump’s role in facilitating the agreement.