KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Reuters) - In a significant diplomatic move, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have officially signed an expanded ceasefire agreement, with U.S. President Donald Trump present to oversee the momentous occasion. This event took place during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, where Trump is also engaged in critical trade discussions on the sidelines.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet inked the agreement at an elaborate ceasefire ceremony adorned with a sign proclaiming "Delivering Peace." This new agreement builds upon a truce established just three months prior. Hun Manet emphasized the importance of this declaration, stating, "If fully implemented, it will provide the building blocks for a lasting peace, but more importantly, it will begin the process of mending our ties." He acknowledged the toll that conflict has taken on border communities, which have been divided and affected by violence, resulting in significant losses for innocent civilians.
President Trump played a pivotal role in brokering peace between the two nations, having previously intervened during a five-day conflict in July. His calls to the then-leaders of Thailand and Cambodia urged them to cease hostilities, warning that their ongoing trade discussions with Washington could be jeopardized. Trump stated, "The United States will have a robust commerce and cooperation, transactions, lots of them, with both nations, as long as they live in peace."
The recent conflict, which involved exchanges of rockets and heavy artillery, resulted in at least 48 casualties and displaced approximately 300,000 individuals. Both nations have placed blame on each other for the escalation of hostilities. In light of the new ceasefire agreement, Anutin has committed to removing heavy weapons from border areas to ensure the safety of civilians and has also agreed to release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers.
Upon his arrival in Malaysia, President Trump received a warm welcome from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a troupe of ceremonial dancers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Notably, Trump paused to engage with the performers before embarking on discussions with other leaders. As U.S. and Chinese negotiators convened on the sidelines to address ongoing trade tensions, top U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer revealed that a wide range of topics were being covered, including the potential extension of a trade truce.
The negotiations are particularly focused on rare earths, an area where China currently dominates global supply chains. President Trump highlighted the U.S.'s intention to sign crucial minerals deals with both Thailand and Malaysia, while discussions for a broader trade agreement with Cambodia are also underway.
In another significant development, East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, officially became the 11th member of the ASEAN bloc. This milestone culminates a nearly 50-year aspiration articulated by the nation's current president during its time as a Portuguese colony. With a population of 1.4 million, East Timor is among Asia's poorest nations, striving to benefit from its integration into the ASEAN economic framework, which collectively boasts a gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion.
East Timor's accession to ASEAN has been a long-awaited journey, as President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao celebrated this achievement as a monumental victory for the nation’s quest for independence. Gusmao remarked, "For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey, a young democracy born from our struggle."
This historic moment in ASEAN's expansion reflects the growing collaboration and unity among Southeast Asian nations, paving the way for future cooperation and development.
