Kuala lumpur: United States President Donald Trump has praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for successfully brokering the signing of the landmark Cambodia-Thailand peace deal today. He said Anwar's efforts led to a ceasefire that prevented the escalation of the border conflict between both countries and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians living on both sides of the border.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Trump, in his speech at the signing ceremony, described Anwar, the current Chair of ASEAN, as a great historic figure. Trump's visit to Malaysia was prompted by Anwar's efforts in the peace deal, as he wanted to personally thank the Malaysian Prime Minister and attend the 47th ASEAN Summit.
Trump highlighted Anwar's ability to bring together the two parties engaged in an armed conflict in July, resolving the dispute and preventing violence from spreading. This action soothed concerns among other ASEAN member countries. The peace deal, known as the KL Peace Accord, was signed by Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with Trump and Anwar signing as witnesses.
"The two leaders (Thailand and Cambodia) have great respect for each other, but Prime Minister Anwar played a very important role in helping convene the two sides for discussions here in Kuala Lumpur," said Trump. He commended the courage shown by the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia in coming together and witnessed the signing of the KL Peace Accord, documented as 'Delivering Peace - Cambodia-Thailand Peace Deal'.
The peace deal was signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit hosted by Malaysia. The ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which began today, are being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) under tight security.
Trump further detailed the events leading to the peace deal, mentioning that he had called Anwar at the onset of the dispute between the two nations. "I called him right at the beginning, and said, you know, you have two countries that are fighting right next to you. We need a third place. We need a sort of neutral place, right! And he was there," he said.
Trump had promised Anwar a visit to Malaysia if the latter managed to solve the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. "I said to him, you know, if we get this solved, I'm coming to your country."
Thailand and Cambodia have long been in dispute over their 817-kilometer border, with recent tensions flaring into a military confrontation on July 24. On July 28, Anwar hosted a high-stakes meeting in Malaysia's federal administrative capital of Putrajaya between Manet and then Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, which led to a ceasefire and defused tensions along their shared border.
The ceasefire, widely seen as a major ASEAN achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians living on both sides of the border. Trump's maiden trip to Malaysia today marks the first visit by an American president to the country in a decade.
Also present at the signing ceremony was Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan, as well as Thai and Cambodian officials, also attended the ceremony.