US President Donald Trump has asked to preside over the signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand when he attends the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month, according to four government and diplomatic sources.
Southeast Asia is hoping to negotiate concessions to punishing tariffs imposed by Washington when they meet in the Malaysian capital from October 26 to 28, adding significance to Trump’s request for a peace signing ceremony.
At least 43 people were killed over five days of intense fighting along the shared border between Cambodia and Thailand in early August.
The two Association of Southeast Asian Nations members later agreed to start peace negotiations after Trump threatened to shelve tariff talks without a ceasefire. But diplomatic pressure for peace also came from China, a key ally of both countries.
Trump wanted a special ceremony on the sidelines of the Asean Summit to stake his claim on initiating the peace process, four diplomatic and Malaysian government sources confirmed to This Week in Asia.
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Thailand, Cambodia agree to ‘unconditional’ ceasefire after 5 days of fighting
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ‘unconditional’ ceasefire after 5 days of fighting
That is on top of the ceasefire deal already agreed on August 7, mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
