In a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, the two countries signed what is being touted as the "Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord," but some are questioning whether it truly represents peace. The agreement has all the hallmarks of US President Donald Trump's style - superlatives and big claims.
At the signing, Trump towered over everyone else, making the biggest claims. He described the two prime ministers as "historic figures" before recalling his involvement in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict while visiting his golf course in Scotland. The deal was a condition for his visit to the Asean summit and was used by him to press his campaign to be recognized as a great peacemaker.
While it's true that both countries signed a ceasefire back in July, which was also facilitated by Trump, the latest agreement isn't much of a leap forward. The two sides agree to withdraw heavy weapons from the disputed border, establish an interim observer team, and clear landmines using a new procedure.
This is progress - Thai diplomats have told me they feel that Trump's involvement may help these agreements stick. However, historic differences over the border remain unresolved, and there's a risk of flaring up again if tensions escalate.
After the ceremony, Thailand's Foreign Minister refused to call it a peace agreement, instead sticking with their preferred title for the document. Cambodia was more effusive in its praise for Trump, who had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thailand has always insisted that the dispute should be resolved bilaterally without outside mediation. The US and Malaysia are described as only "facilitating" this agreement. Neither country could afford to spurn Trump's request for this ceremony - South East Asia is heavily reliant on the US market, which has been a significant challenge in recent years.
In reality, there's more to the story than what was presented at the ceremony. The complex issues at play involve nationalist pressure and internationalization of disputes.
At the signing, Trump towered over everyone else, making the biggest claims. He described the two prime ministers as "historic figures" before recalling his involvement in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict while visiting his golf course in Scotland. The deal was a condition for his visit to the Asean summit and was used by him to press his campaign to be recognized as a great peacemaker.
While it's true that both countries signed a ceasefire back in July, which was also facilitated by Trump, the latest agreement isn't much of a leap forward. The two sides agree to withdraw heavy weapons from the disputed border, establish an interim observer team, and clear landmines using a new procedure.
This is progress - Thai diplomats have told me they feel that Trump's involvement may help these agreements stick. However, historic differences over the border remain unresolved, and there's a risk of flaring up again if tensions escalate.
After the ceremony, Thailand's Foreign Minister refused to call it a peace agreement, instead sticking with their preferred title for the document. Cambodia was more effusive in its praise for Trump, who had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thailand has always insisted that the dispute should be resolved bilaterally without outside mediation. The US and Malaysia are described as only "facilitating" this agreement. Neither country could afford to spurn Trump's request for this ceremony - South East Asia is heavily reliant on the US market, which has been a significant challenge in recent years.
In reality, there's more to the story than what was presented at the ceremony. The complex issues at play involve nationalist pressure and internationalization of disputes.
. i mean, yeah progress and all that but let's not get carried away here... the fact that they're still gotta agree on everything else kinda undermines the whole thing in my opinion 
. and what's up with the US being all "fascilitating" this agreement? it feels like they're just trying to look good for their own interests 
. anyway, can't wait to see how this plays out...
. I mean, sure, it's progress that both countries agreed to withdraw heavy weapons and clear landmines, but let's not forget that they're still not addressing the root issues at play. It sounds like Trump is just trying to save face by calling himself a peacemaker - all these superlatives about being an "historic figure" feel kinda over-the-top 
. And what's with the US and Malaysia playing it cool, saying they're just facilitating? I think we should dig deeper into this and see if there's more to the story than what's being presented...
... what really matters is that the ceasefire was reinstated & tensions are abating - can't we celebrate that? 
The US and Malaysia are playing this nice-guy role, but it's clear they both had a vested interest in getting Trump on board for that Asean summit. This whole thing feels a bit too scripted for my taste 
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. hes making big claims but theres still no actual resolution to the border issue. like, whats next? him claiming victory in a game he didnt even win 
. and what about the thailand gov really trying to hide the fact that trump wasnt all peaceloving? 
theyre just using this as an excuse to get closer to the usa market...
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but seriously, can't thailand & cambodia just talk it out themselves? 
it feels like us is playin a big role here...like we're tryna save them or somethin' 
gotta be careful not to stir up more drama 
landmines and all that 
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. trump's involvement is all about self-promotion, not actual progress 
. and what's with the us & malaysia playing the role of mediators? shouldnt they be focusing on their own relations instead of inserting themselves into someone else's conflict 
. Trump is all about being super big deal, right? But honestly, can't he just chill for a sec? He's using some pretty sketchy tactics to get what he wants. Like, mentioning his golf course in Scotland? What does that even have to do with anything? 
And why is everyone so quick to praise him for this deal without really thinking it through?
It feels like there's some major drama brewing under the surface. I mean, can we trust that this deal is really about peace, or is it just a way for Trump to pad his resume?