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A top Cambodian official has indicated that the country will nominate President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize over his role in brokering a ceasefire with Thailand.
Some shit you should know before you read: A little over a week ago, Thailand and Cambodia became embroiled in their most intense border conflict in over a decade, with fighting erupting along a 120-mile stretch of disputed territory. The clashes, which included airstrikes and rocket fire, lasted five days and resulted in at least 45 deaths and the displacement of more than 300,000 people. Thailand initially resisted outside mediation, preferring bilateral talks, while Cambodia called for international intervention. China offered to mediate, but its efforts failed to gain traction. The stalemate was ultimately broken after a phone call from President Trump to both countries’ leaders, urging an end to hostilities and warning that trade negotiations with the US would be suspended until peace was restored. This pressure prompted the two sides to agree to a ceasefire during talks hosted in Malaysia on July 28.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Cambodia’s deputy prime minister, Sun Chanthol, was quoted by a Cambodian news outlet saying that his country “must formally propose that President Donald Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.” He added, “As Cambodian citizens, we deeply admire and sincerely thank the US president, the President of Peace.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has been put forward for the Nobel Peace Prize by foreign governments. In June, Pakistan announced it would recommend Trump for the award following his role in diffusing a conflict with India. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated last month that he had formally submitted Trump’s name, citing his contributions to peace in the Middle East and unwavering support for Israel.
This comes as Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over not having received a Nobel Peace Prize, often contrasting his record with that of former President Barack Obama, who received the honor early in his presidency. Trump has argued that his administration’s foreign policy achievements have been overlooked by what he views as a biased selection process.
