U.S. President Donald Trump has been officially nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, who credited him with helping to end the recent border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.
In a Facebook post on Thursday night, August 7, Hun Manet shared his letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praising Trump’s “timely intervention” for averting a potentially devastating war.
“This timely intervention, which averted a potentially devastating conflict, was vital in preventing great loss of life and paved the way for the restoration of peace,” the letter read.
According to Reuters, Trump spoke by phone on July 26 with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, breaking a diplomatic deadlock. Just two days later, peace talks in Malaysia produced a ceasefire agreement. On Thursday, both nations pledged to avoid renewed hostilities and allow Southeast Asian observers to monitor the truce.
The five-day conflict, which began with small-arms fire, escalated to heavy artillery exchanges, rocket fire, and an F-16 airstrike by Thailand. It left 43 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 residents.
Cambodia’s deputy prime minister had hinted at the nomination last week, also thanking Trump for reducing a threatened U.S. tariff on Cambodian garment exports from 49% to 19% — a decision credited with saving a key sector of the nation’s economy.
Other nations have also lauded Trump’s mediation efforts. In June, Pakistan announced plans to nominate him for his role in easing tensions with India, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed last month that he had also submitted Trump’s name for the award.