Trump Steals the Spotlight at ASEAN Summit as Thailand and Cambodia Sign Ceasefire Deal

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday signed a major ceasefire agreement, overseen by U.S. President Donald Trump, who was in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit and a series of key trade discussions.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet signed the deal during a ceremony held against a backdrop reading “Delivering Peace.” The accord builds on a truce reached three months ago.

Hun Manet said, “If this declaration is fully implemented, it will lay the foundation for lasting peace — and, more importantly, begin a process of rebuilding our relationship. Our border communities have been divided by conflict, and innocent civilians have suffered deeply.”

Trump had helped end five days of fighting in July by calling both leaders and urging them to stop hostilities or risk suspension of their trade talks with Washington. “As long as both nations live in peace,” Trump said, “America will maintain strong commerce and cooperation — many deals, tremendous deals — with both countries.”

The clashes, involving rocket and artillery exchanges, killed at least 48 people and temporarily displaced around 300,000 residents, marking one of the region’s deadliest skirmishes in recent memory.

Following the death of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit on Friday, Anutin nearly skipped the signing but later decided to attend the ceremony. He said both sides had agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from border areas to ensure civilian safety, and that Thailand would release 18 captured Cambodian soldiers once the agreement took effect.

Trump’s ASEAN Appearance and Trade Diplomacy

Upon arriving in Malaysia, Trump was welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a troupe of ceremonial dancers. He paused on the red carpet to dance briefly with the performers before waving both the U.S. and Malaysian flags and departing with Anwar in a limousine to the city.

While Trump met with other leaders, U.S. and Chinese negotiators held sideline talks aimed at easing tensions in the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

Asked whether the talks covered rare earths, top U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer said discussions included a “range of issues,” including extending the existing truce on trade measures. “I think we’re getting to a place where the leaders’ meeting will be very productive,” he said.

China’s dominance over the global rare earth supply chain remained a central topic, with Washington pushing to diversify sources.

At the ceasefire ceremony, Trump announced that the U.S. would soon sign critical minerals agreements with Thailand and Malaysia, and was also working toward a major trade deal with Cambodia.

Later on Sunday, Trump was scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, one of several world leaders attending the weekend summit, to discuss U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports. Lula said he planned to argue that Washington’s 50% tariff on Brazilian goods was a “mistake,” citing a $410 billion U.S. trade surplus with Brazil over the past 15 years. Trump had earlier suggested he was open to lowering tariffs during his Asia trip.

However, no similar meeting was expected with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, after trade talks between the neighbors broke down. On Saturday, Trump said he planned to raise tariffs on Canada by another 10%.

East Timor Joins ASEAN as 11th Member

In other summit developments, East Timor became the 11th member of ASEAN on Sunday, fulfilling a vision set nearly half a century ago when the country was still a Portuguese colony.

Also known as Timor-Leste, the nation of 1.4 million people is among Asia’s poorest and hopes ASEAN membership will help boost its roughly $2 billion economy, a small fraction of the bloc’s $3.8 trillion GDP.

The accession comes 14 years after the country first applied for membership. While not expected to bring major economic changes, the move is a symbolic victory for President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, both veterans of East Timor’s independence struggle.

Gusmão said in his address, “For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only the fulfillment of a dream but also a reaffirmation of our journey. Our inclusion is a testament to the spirit of our people — a young democracy born from our struggle.”