United States President Donald Trump will establish a peace foundation between Thailand and Cambodia at the Malaysian summit, bringing structure to what he describes as a “great peace deal” that he brokered. The establishment will take place during the 47th ASEAN summit.
The peace foundation responds to serious border clashes that erupted in July 2025 between Thai and Cambodian military forces over disputed territories. The five-day military engagement resulted in fatalities and forced thousands of residents on both sides of the border to flee their homes, underscoring the critical need for a lasting diplomatic framework.
Malaysia played a crucial mediating role and successfully negotiated a ceasefire that was implemented in late July 2025. Since the truce took effect, the Malaysian government has coordinated ASEAN observer teams that remain deployed along the border to monitor compliance and ensure both Thailand and Cambodia honor the terms of the cessation of hostilities.
President Trump announced via Truth Social while aboard Air Force One that the peace foundation establishment would occur immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia. This schedule is intended to accommodate all the international leaders attending this historic event, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ASEAN leaders. Trump also expressed condolences for the recent passing of Thailand’s Queen Mother and stated he would meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister shortly after landing.
The established peace foundation addresses a territorial dispute spanning more than 800 kilometers of shared border between Cambodia and Thailand, including multiple non-demarcated areas. Recent diplomatic progress includes agreements reached during an October meeting of the Joint Commission in Chanthaburi, Thailand, where both nations committed to advancing boundary demarcation efforts. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has indicated that both countries are close to finalizing a Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations designed to comprehensively resolve the border situation. The dispute has historically centered on ancient Hindu temple sites in the Dangrek Mountains, with previous violence in 2011 near Preah Vihear temple resulting in at least 16 deaths.