Bloomberg Photo: Trump signs trade d3eal over Malaysia’s trip

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93dy2kk7vzo

By Jonathan Head, South East Asia Correspondent, Kuala Lumpur

The spotlight in Kuala Lumpur was, predictably, on US President Donald Trump — towering over the stage as Thailand and Cambodia signed what he dubbed the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord.”

In a characteristically grand performance, Trump hailed the signing as “a monumental step for South East Asia,” boasting of his personal role in resolving the long-standing border tensions between the two nations.

He recalled how his intervention began while on a visit to his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last July. “I could have played golf, but this was far more important — saving people, saving countries,” Trump quipped, adding that he was “averaging one war ended per month” during his presidency.

Trump had insisted on this special ceremony as a precondition for attending the annual ASEAN summit — a stage he used to reinforce his image as a global peacemaker.

What the deal actually says

Despite the fanfare, the so-called peace accord adds little to the ceasefire both countries agreed to months earlier, which Trump also claimed credit for.

Under the new agreement, Thailand and Cambodia will:

• Withdraw heavy weaponry from disputed border areas;
• Deploy an interim observer team to monitor the ceasefire;
• Establish a joint taskforce to clear landmines and combat cross-border scams;
• Replace missing boundary markers with temporary ones.

While diplomats in Bangkok admit Trump’s involvement could help ensure compliance, the core border disputes remain unresolved — leaving room for future flare-ups.

A tale of two tones

The Thai government downplayed the deal’s significance, avoiding the term “peace agreement” altogether. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow called it merely “a pathway to peace.”

In contrast, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet lavished praise on Trump, even reminding him that Phnom Penh had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, cautious of nationalist sentiment at home, maintained that Thailand preferred a bilateral approach — rejecting the notion of international mediation that Cambodia has long sought.

A diplomatic balancing act

ASEAN nations could hardly refuse Trump’s demand for a ceremonial platform. The region remains heavily dependent on US trade and wary of his tariff threats, which once reached as high as 48% before being scaled down.

Trump, however, isn’t staying long — heading next to Japan and the APEC summit, where he hopes to reset ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For ASEAN, even a brief presidential visit brings some relief. As one regional diplomat put it, “Having the US president in Kuala Lumpur for a day is, in itself, a sign of stability — no matter how showy the peace he claims to bring.”