With U.S. president Donald Trump acting as mediator, Thailand and Cambodia signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement, which aims to resolve the two countries’ border dispute. At a ceremony dominated by Trump, the actual agreement may represent only a limited initial step towards solving the conflict between the two South-East Asian rivals.
President Trump took centre stage in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to settle the recent Thai–Cambodian border dispute. In a long speech, he called the event historic and emphasised his own role in resolving the conflict, noting that he had “ended eight wars in eight months.”
The prime ministers attending the meeting described it as “the path to peace.” Under the specific agreement, both countries will withdraw their heavy weapons from the disputed border area, set up a temporary observation team, and establish a joint task force to monitor fraud centres and remove landmines.
The two states signed a previous ceasefire agreement in July. Its implementation was accelerated by pressure from the U.S. president. To its critics, this latest agreement is largely symbolic.
Thai diplomats, however, feel that Trump’s involvement could help ensure compliance with such arrangements. However, these tentative diplomatic steps may prove insufficient to resolve historic border disputes which—according to experts—could flare up again at any time.
