Journalism of Courage
US President Donald Trump on Sunday signed key economic agreements with Thailand and Cambodia while overseeing an expansion of a ceasefire between the two countries during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Cambodia and Thailand signed an enhanced ceasefire that builds on a July agreement which ended months of border clashes. The expanded deal, signed in the presence of Trump, includes the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand and a phased removal of heavy weapons along the disputed 800-kilometre frontier.
In addition to overseeing the ceasefire, Trump signed trade agreements with Cambodia and a critical minerals deal with Thailand. A White House official confirmed that a similar agreement with Malaysia is expected during the summit, Reuters reported.
Trump described the trade deals as a step toward stronger economic ties in Southeast Asia, a region that continues to play a growing role in global supply chains.
The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute has persisted for decades, with previous confrontations typically brief.
The July ceasefire, brokered with US involvement, had already helped prevent further bloodshed and displacement.
Trump said the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia had the potential to save millions of lives, making the remarks ahead of the signing ceremony for the expanded ceasefire. He also noted that the United States would soon finalise trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia, alongside the critical minerals deal with Thailand.
(With inputs from agencies)
