President Trump Facilitates Peace Pact Between Cambodia and Thailand
President Trump has commenced a critical week-long diplomatic journey across Asia, making stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. The ultimate challenge of his trip, however, will be the upcoming discussions with China’s formidable leader, Xi Jinping.
Pictured above: President Trump with the leaders of Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia during Sunday’s events in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
President Trump’s First Day in Asia: Grand Gestures, Lingering Questions
President Trump meets with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Kicking off a nearly week-long Asian tour, President Trump landed in Malaysia on Sunday amidst a flurry of diplomatic activity, overseeing a peace agreement and striking deals on tariffs and critical minerals. His arrival in Kuala Lumpur was a spectacle of showmanship, complete with pumping fists and drumming, seemingly designed to soften his image in a region wary of his aggressive trade policies. However, beneath the dazzling display, the core of his administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy appeared unchanged. The trip itself began with significant domestic and international turmoil back home, as Trump had just abruptly ended trade talks with Canada, dispatched an aircraft carrier to Venezuela, commenced demolition of the White House’s East Wing, and deployed soldiers to various American cities.
Upon his Sunday morning arrival, President Trump savored the grand welcoming ceremony, acknowledging crowds waving American and Malaysian flags before joining Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his presidential limousine, “The Beast.” Shortly thereafter, Trump presided over a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, a conflict he frequently claims credit for resolving. “This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand,” Trump declared. Despite a ceasefire being in place for three months, the President announced this new agreement would secure the release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war—a term reportedly endorsed by the Thai prime minister.
The peace pact’s signing was expedited at Trump’s insistence, occurring just hours after his arrival. This move highlighted his ongoing quest to be seen as a global peacemaker and negotiator, a role he actively cultivates—even as his aggressive tariffs continue to destabilize international trade and his domestic policies sow unrest. While additional agreements on reciprocal trade with Cambodia and critical minerals with Thailand were signed, they did not significantly alter existing trade dynamics with the U.S.
A trade agreement between the U.S. and Malaysia, also signed by Trump and Anwar, similarly left the 19 percent tariff rate unchanged. All three deals, however, included commitments from these Southeast Asian nations to support U.S. efforts to counter China’s growing influence—a nation many in the region deeply depend on economically. The world’s two economic giants, the U.S. and China, have been in a contentious standoff since Trump’s re-election. China recently threatened to restrict rare earth exports, vital for global manufacturing, in retaliation for U.S. tariffs, prompting Trump to pledge even higher tariffs in response.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese representatives held separate trade discussions on Sunday, leading to a “very substantial framework” agreement, as reported by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The ultimate outcome of any deal, however, rests on direct talks between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, scheduled for later in the week—their first in-person meeting since Trump’s return to office.
Separately, the White House announced a trade agreement framework with Vietnam, maintaining the 20 percent reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese exports.
During a working lunch with various Southeast Asian leaders, a visibly hoarse Trump quipped about his demanding schedule in Malaysia following a 24-hour journey, admitting he had hoped for an “easy” start. The White House had, in fact, changed the event from a dinner to a lunch at the last minute. Addressing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Trump delivered a brief, hurried speech, adhering strictly to his prepared notes.
Looking ahead, President Trump is slated to depart Malaysia on Monday for Japan, where he will engage with the nation’s newly elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi—the first woman to hold the position—with an eye toward finalizing a trade agreement. His journey will culminate in Gyeongju, South Korea, for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where the highly anticipated meeting with President Xi Jinping awaits.
Alexandra Stevenson and Alan Rappeport contributed to this report.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: China’s lead trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, announced that U.S. and Chinese officials in Malaysia have achieved preliminary consensus on several key issues during ongoing trade talks.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the U.S. and China have forged a “very substantial framework” trade agreement. This breakthrough, following two days of negotiations in Malaysia, is expected to avert additional 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports and secure a “deferral” on China’s rare earth export restrictions. Bessent also highlighted that the deal promises significant gains for U.S. soybean farmers, who have been struggling with a Chinese boycott. While awaiting final approval from Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping, who are scheduled to meet later this week, Bessent expressed optimism: “I believe that we have the framework for the two leaders to have a very productive meeting for both sides, and I think it will be fantastic for U.S. citizens, for U.S. farmers, and for our country in general.” He further emphasized on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that “soybean farmers are going to be extremely happy with this deal,” though specific timelines for renewed Chinese purchases were not provided.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Just half a day after President Trump announced new tariffs against Canada, sparked by a Canadian province’s critical television ad, Prime Minister Mark Carney refrained from directly criticizing the U.S. leader. Carney affirmed, “Canada stands ready to build on the progress that we had been making in our negotiations and discussions with our American counterparts.” He subtly rebuked Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who sponsored the ad, by emphasizing that trade negotiations fall under the “sole responsibility of the government of Canada.”
Tokyo: The White House has confirmed that President Trump’s official public engagements for the day have concluded.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Journalists stationed a few miles from the main ASEAN summit hub have been awaiting an update from China’s chief trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, regarding U.S.-China trade discussions. Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that significant progress had been made.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Prior to his meeting with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Trump faced media questions regarding potential tariff reductions. Both leaders appeared visibly agitated and offered sparse answers. Trump sidestepped inquiries about the conditions for lowering tariffs or improving U.S.-Brazil relations, and curtly dismissed a question about the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula, who said he brought a detailed English agenda, expressed frustration over the time spent on press questions before their talks began, a sentiment echoed by Trump, who deemed the questions “boring” before dismissing reporters.
The White House has announced a new framework for a trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam. This deal, consistent with other trade announcements made Sunday, confirms that the reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese exports will remain at 20 percent.
Hong Kong: President Trump hailed a “major trade deal” with Malaysia, which includes a commitment from the Southeast Asian nation to invest $70 billion in the U.S. over the next decade. The White House also reported that Thailand has agreed to purchase 80 American aircraft valued at $18.8 billion, while Cambodia will collaborate with aerospace giant Boeing to bolster its aviation industry.
Hong Kong: In a show of solidarity before President Trump’s upcoming meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia have each committed to cooperating with the United States on critical minerals and rare earth resources. While these are currently nonbinding, Alexander Feldman of the Asia Group noted that these pledges represent “a step in the right direction,” enhancing Trump’s leverage in negotiations with Xi.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: During a quiet moment away from the main ASEAN conference, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed reporters that U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators have achieved a “very successful framework for the leaders to discuss” ahead of this week’s meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping.
Tokyo: Concluding his remarks, President Trump offered no hint of the domestic chaos unfolding in Washington, including a federal government now in its fourth week of a shutdown. He declared, “The United States is having its golden age.”
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Following a grueling 24-hour journey, President Trump appeared to lose momentum during a working lunch with ASEAN leaders. He conspicuously stuck to his prepared remarks, rushing through his speech, and even his characteristic declarations of an American “golden age” and jabs at his predecessor seemed to fall flat. He concluded by simply calling the assembled leaders “very special people.”
Tokyo: With a noticeably hoarser voice, President Trump humorously mentioned his intention to “take it easy” in Malaysia after a 24-hour flight. Despite claiming he’d been there “a day” (it had only been about five hours), he acknowledged that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a substantial agenda to discuss.
Tokyo: President Trump’s schedule in Malaysia saw several adjustments just hours after his arrival. A planned working dinner with Southeast Asian leaders was unexpectedly shifted to a working lunch due to the passing of the Thai Queen Mother. His day has largely consisted of numerous photo opportunities, with few substantial details emerging from the trade agreements signed.
Hong Kong: The White House has issued multiple statements detailing agreements with Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia concerning critical minerals and trade. These agreements maintain the 19 percent tariff rates previously imposed by Mr. Trump. They also include Washington’s demands for greater market access and preferential treatment for U.S. companies, alongside pledges from the Asian nations to collaborate on critical mineral resources.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: While ASEAN summits are often characterized by perfunctory handshakes and generic statements, this year’s gathering is markedly different. President Trump has become the focal point, drawing other key leaders from Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. This presents an unusual opportunity for these nations to engage directly with Trump, who, in turn, may use the platform to intensify existing disputes with Canada and Brazil.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim humorously recounted a breach of security protocol when President Trump invited him into his limousine upon arrival. “When the president arrived, he asked me to join him in the car,” Anwar stated, adding with a laugh, “He was delighted to break the rules. We share lots of things in common. I was in prison, he almost got there.” The anecdote drew considerable laughter from the audience.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Despite Thailand’s preference against third-party mediation in its ceasefire and peace negotiations with Cambodia, U.S. and Malaysian efforts successfully brought both nations to the discussion table. According to Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the resulting agreements were ultimately finalized through direct talks between Cambodia and Thailand.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Ahead of the summit, President Trump unexpectedly terminated trade talks with Canada, a move that stunned Canadians. During his address to Asian leaders in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a vocal critic of tariffs, notably diverged from his prepared speech. He deliberately avoided any direct criticism of the U.S. or President Trump, instead focusing on the importance of working with “reliable partners who honor their commitments.”
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The peace signing ceremony between Thailand and Cambodia has expanded to include new trade agreements with both nations. This shift underscores the dual focus of President Trump’s Asia trip: brokering peace deals and advancing trade interests.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Thailand’s Prime Minister announced that the United States has signed an agreement with his country, potentially paving the way for a full trade deal by year-end. Additionally, both nations are set to formalize cooperation on critical minerals through a memorandum of understanding.