KUALA LUMPUR – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has lauded US President Donald Trump for his apparent role in brokering the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, which was formalised today in Putrajaya.
Leavitt even suggested that Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
“President Trump made this happen. Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!” Leavitt declared in a post on X, sharing a screenshot of a New York Times article which described the negotiations as “US-backed talks.”
The ceasefire agreement, which will take effect from midnight, follows a series of deadly clashes along the border between the two nations, which have claimed at least 33 lives since July 25.
The meeting, held at Seri Perdana, was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is serving as Asean Chair this year.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai attended the talks, marking their first direct engagement since tensions flared on July 24.
In a joint statement, the leaders confirmed that the meeting was co-organised by the US, with China actively participating as an observer. The statement also noted that Malaysia played the role of facilitator in the discussions.
Trump had previously conveyed to both Cambodia and Thailand that the US would not pursue further trade deals with them unless they halted the violence. This pressure, according to sources, was a key factor in bringing the two nations to the negotiating table.
In addition to the US, both China and Malaysia had also called for an end to the conflict before the ceasefire was reached.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the ceasefire and praised the leadership of Anwar. He also reiterated the commitment of the US government to resolving the dispute.
“We are grateful to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his leadership and for hosting the ceasefire talks,” Rubio said in a statement.
Thailand and Cambodia have pledged to resume dialogue and work towards long-term peace, with both nations agreeing to abide by the terms of the ceasefire.
In a joint press conference after the talks, Anwar revealed that both nations had reached a common understanding, agreeing to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire effective from 24:00 hours local time on July 28, 2025.
He called it “a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”
“Cambodia and Thailand have reached a common understanding: an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, effective from 24:00 hours,” said Anwar, stressing the importance of continued dialogue to ensure lasting peace.
He added that the two countries would hold a regional commanders’ meeting on July 29, followed by a meeting with Defence Attachés led by Asean.
Anwar also announced that Thailand and Cambodia would convene a General Border Committee meeting on August 4 in Cambodia.
The Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries, as well as Malaysia, have been tasked with developing a comprehensive mechanism to implement, verify, and report on the ceasefire.
During the discussions, Anwar highlighted the significant roles of the United States and China in facilitating peace.
Trump had been in direct contact with the leaders of both nations, urging them to find a peaceful resolution. – July 28, 2025