Military Space News
WAR REPORT
What we know about Thai-Cambodia truce deal touted by Trump
What we know about Thai-Cambodia truce deal touted by Trump
by AFP Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Oct 26, 2025

US President Donald Trump jetted into Malaysia on Sunday to oversee the signing of a Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire pact, after deadly cross-border clashes between the countries flared this summer.

Here's what we know about their agreement to uphold a truce, Trump's role in sealing the deal and the conflict at the heart of the matter.

- What's in the deal? -

Thailand and Cambodia witnessed their worst cross-border clashes in decades in July, when a territory dispute boiled over into five days of open combat along their jungle-clad frontier.

At least 40 people were killed and 300,000 forced to flee their homes as soldiers traded gunfire, fighter jets launched sorties and rocket barrages rained down.

The joint declaration between the Thai and Cambodia prime ministers, witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, contains paragraphs of broad pro-peace rhetoric and a few concrete details.

Both sides agreed to remove heavy weapons and landmines from the border, and to establish a ceasefire monitor team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc chaired by Anwar.

They also agreed to "refrain from disseminating or promoting false information" in a bid to "foster an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue".

Thailand will "promptly release" 18 captured Cambodian soldiers.

While the deal agrees both sides will continue a dialogue through cross-border committees, it does not resolve the core territorial dispute which caused fighting to flare.

- What's Trump's role? -

Thailand and Cambodia agreed an initial truce on July 28 after interventions by Trump, as well Malaysian leader Anwar and a team of Chinese diplomats.

But Trump hoarded credit, describing himself as "the President of PEACE" on social media at the time and recently boasting he had "proudly brokered" the armistice.

Both Thailand and Cambodia were courting trade deals with Washington amid Trump's global tariff blitz when he intervened, stoking speculation that the president used economic leverage to force the truce.

Trump called the peace pact signing on Sunday a "monumental step", and the White House swiftly announced new trade agreements with both countries.

A non-binding memorandum of understanding with Thailand outlines measures to increase cooperation on trading rare earth minerals, which are vital to tech products and of which China is the world's leading producer.

The headline of the Cambodian trade deal confirms the 19 percent levy the country had already secured this summer, a let-off from the 36 percent Trump had been threatening.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a statement on Sunday repeating his claim that he has nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the conflict.

- Is it all solved? -

The Thai-Cambodia conflict flared over a smattering of border temples, contested because of a vague territorial demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907.

The International Court of Justice granted Phnom Penh sovereignty over one of the most coveted temples in 1962 and a small patch of land around it in 2013, but Thailand does not recognise its jurisdiction.

The deal touted by Trump in Kuala Lumpur does not wade into the specifics of the territorial spat, which has sparked numerous rounds of violence over decades.

Khoo Ying Hooi, associate professor of international and strategic studies at the University of Malaysia, said any deal between the countries would be "more symbolic than substantive".

"The border issues have been there for a long time," she told BFM news radio.

Trump's comments, though, represent the deal as drawing a line under the dispute -- like many other global showdowns he claims to have put to rest.

"This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia, as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand," he said.

"Today's signing represents just one of eight conflicts that we've ended in eight months of the Trump presidency."

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
Trump: Qatar is readying peacekeepers for Gaza
Washington DC (UPI) Oct 25, 2025
Qatari officials are preparing peacekeeping troops for Gaza if needed to help maintain a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, President Donald Trump said during a refueling stop. Air Force One stopped in Qatar on Saturday evening to refuel while the president is flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, amid a Southeast Asia trip that includes a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahma ... read more

WAR REPORT
Space Force operationally accepts SciTec Forge missile warning ground system

SpaceX launches 21 satellites for U.S. military from California

Shield or Spark? The U.S. Golden Dome and the New Missile Arms Race

Sierra Space clears design milestone for missile tracking satellites in SDA Tranche 2

WAR REPORT
UK says allies should boost Ukraine's long-range missile reach

Russia's Burevestnik: A Nuclear-Powered Missile That Defies Convention

Ukraine's Zelensky leaves D.C. without Tomahawk missiles he sought

'Wonder weapon'? Five things about US Tomahawks coveted by Ukraine

WAR REPORT
Drones, glide bombs and Patriots: weapons in Ukraine war

Drone attack hits Khartoum airport area ahead of reopening

Drone attack hits Khartoum airport area ahead of reopening: eyewitnesses

UK military to get new powers to shoot down drones

WAR REPORT
Airbus, Thales, Leonardo sign deal to create satellite powerhouse

Iridium and T-Mobile expand PNT deployment under U.S. DOT resilience program

SpaceX launches SpainSat communications satellite

Snapdragon Mission Tactical Radio gains Iridium data for global L band connectivity

WAR REPORT
Croatia reintroduces conscription to boost defence

Vance event honoring Marines criticized as a 'dangerous' show of force

Artillery shell detonates over California highway, striking patrol car

Lockheed Martin to Develop IFPC 2nd Interceptor for U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense

WAR REPORT
New Japan PM to advance defence spending target: reports

British troops part of US-led mission in Israel: defence ministry

Sweden says Zelensky to visit for 'defence export' announcement

Idea of German 'draft lottery' sparks govt row

WAR REPORT
Trump heads to Asia for Xi talks, eyes Kim meeting

Lithuania slams airspace incursion denied by Russia

Putin seeks 'dialogue' with Trump as EU seeks to shore up Ukraine as US wavers

Trump says Xi could have 'big influence' on Putin; as high-stakes meeting with Xi looms

WAR REPORT
Novel technique reveals true behavior of next-generation MXenes

Unique phase of water revealed in nanoscale confinement

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.