Trump brokers peace and trade pacts with Cambodia and Thailand, criticizes UN inaction

Hold onto your hats, folks—former President Donald Trump just pulled off a diplomatic coup in Southeast Asia that’s got everyone talking.

In a stunning display of deal-making, Trump signed landmark peace and trade agreements with Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia during the ASEAN conference in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by Malaysia, formalizing a truce between Cambodia and Thailand while securing major economic commitments with all three nations, as New York Post reports.

Let’s rewind to July, when tensions flared along the Cambodia-Thailand border, resulting in deadly clashes that claimed at least 66 lives over five days.

Trump’s July Ceasefire Turns to Peace

Trump stepped in back then, brokering a ceasefire that dialed down the heat, even as he initially threatened hefty tariffs—49% on Cambodia and 36% on Thailand—to push for compliance.

After the ceasefire held, he eased those rates to 19%, showing a pragmatic streak that prioritizes results over posturing.

Fast forward to Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, where the formal peace accord was inked, complete with military pullbacks from the disputed border zone and a prisoner-of-war exchange—a concrete step toward lasting stability.

Economic Deals Steal the Spotlight

On the trade front, Trump didn’t just stop at peace; he orchestrated economic pacts that slash tariffs further, some even dropping to zero for select goods, boosting U.S. ties with these nations.

Cambodia’s deal trims tariffs on clothing exports to a range of 7% to 15%, while they’ve committed to buying 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes for their national airline—a win for American jobs.

Thailand went big, agreeing to purchase $2.6 billion in U.S. agricultural goods like corn and soybeans, $5.4 billion in American energy including LNG, and a whopping 80 U.S.-made aircraft worth $18.8 billion.

Malaysia Joins the Trade Bonanza

Malaysia wasn’t left out, signing on for 30 U.S. aircraft, $150 billion in tech hardware like semiconductors, $3.4 billion annually in LNG, $204 million in coal and telecom products, and $70 billion in U.S. investments.

Adding to the strategic depth, critical minerals agreements with Thailand and Malaysia were finalized to counter Chinese export controls, building on a similar pact Trump signed with Australia just last week.

These moves signal a clear pushback against China’s non-market tactics, a refreshing focus on fair play over progressive globalist hand-wringing that often ignores economic realities.

Trump’s Global Vision and UN Jab

Trump’s journey to Malaysia, after a grueling 23-hour flight with a refueling stop in Qatar to discuss his recent Gaza peace plan, showed his relentless drive—heck, he even danced with local performers upon arrival.

On the sidelines, he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss easing a 50% U.S. tariff on Brazil, while expressing interest in tackling conflicts like Pakistan-Afghanistan and Russia-Ukraine, proving he’s not slowing down. As Trump himself put it, “Millions of people are alive today because of this peace treaty.”

But he didn’t mince words about the United Nations, slamming their inaction with a pointed quip: “The United Nations should be doing this, but they don’t do it. They didn’t get involved with us at all.” That’s a fair jab at an organization too often paralyzed by bureaucracy while real leaders step up to solve crises.