Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has officially nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him with helping to ease a dangerous border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.
In a Facebook post late Thursday, Hun Manet revealed that he had sent a formal letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee praising Trump’s “extraordinary statesmanship” in ending the dispute. He wrote that Trump’s role was one of his “exceptional achievements in de-escalating tensions in some of the world’s most volatile regions.”
“This timely intervention, which averted a potentially devastating conflict, was vital in preventing a great loss of lives and paved the way towards the restoration of peace,” Hun Manet stated.
Trump’s Call Ended a Military Standoff
According to Reuters, the turning point came on July 26, when Trump spoke directly with the leaders of both countries. His call broke the deadlock in peace efforts after some of the worst fighting between the neighbours in recent years.
Just two days later, on July 28, Malaysia hosted talks that resulted in a ceasefire agreement. On Thursday, Thailand and Cambodia pledged to avoid reigniting hostilities and to allow Southeast Asian observers to monitor the border.
Heavy Fighting Before the Ceasefire
The five-day conflict began with small arms exchanges but escalated quickly to heavy artillery and rocket fire. Hours later, Thailand deployed an F-16 fighter jet to carry out air strikes. In total, 43 people were killed, and more than 300,000 were displaced.
Tariff Relief Also Played a Role
Hun Manet’s move was not entirely unexpected. Last week, Cambodia’s deputy prime minister had already signalled the plan while thanking Trump for cutting a threatened 49% tariff on Cambodian imports to 19%. Officials said the higher tariff would have crippled the country’s garment industry.
Other Leaders Have Also Backed Trump’s Nomination
Cambodia is not alone in proposing Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. In June, Pakistan said it would recommend him for his help in resolving tensions with India. In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that he had nominated Trump for the award.