President Donald Trump is poised to receive a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Cambodia following his successful intervention in a deadly border dispute with Thailand.
According to the Daily Mail, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol announced the decision on Friday, crediting Trump with averting what could have been a prolonged and devastating regional conflict. The border clashes, which erupted late last week, had already claimed 43 lives and displaced more than 300,000 people before Trump's diplomatic intervention.
Trump's timely phone call to Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on July 26 proved pivotal in de-escalating tensions, ultimately leading to a ceasefire agreement reached in Malaysia on July 28.
Cambodia becomes the third nation this year to put forward Trump's name for the prestigious award, which recognizes individuals who have done the most to "advance fellowship between nations."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously nominated Trump for his work negotiating the 2020 Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations, personally delivering his nomination letter during a White House visit on July 7. Pakistan also announced in June its intention to recommend Trump for the prize after he helped resolve a conflict between Pakistan and India that had erupted in May.
The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded annually on December 10 in Oslo, Norway, represents the highest international recognition for diplomatic achievement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand by posting on X, "Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!"
Cambodia's decision to nominate Trump coincides with favorable trade developments between the two nations. When Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April 2025, Cambodia initially faced a potential 49 percent import tax – the highest rate proposed for any Southeast Asian nation. However, the final tariff rate was set at just 19 percent, sparing Cambodia's crucial export sector from devastating economic consequences.
Deputy Prime Minister Chanthol expressed gratitude for this reduced rate, acknowledging the importance of the U.S. market for Cambodia's manufacturing industry, which produces goods for major American companies like Gap, Levi's, and Nike.
The significant tariff reduction represents a major economic reprieve for Cambodia, as the United States serves as its single largest export market. Similar 19 percent rates were also applied to Thailand and Indonesia, while Vietnam received a slightly higher 20 percent tariff.
Trump's peace efforts have garnered increasing global acknowledgment throughout 2025.
Besides the formal nominations from Israel, Pakistan, and now Cambodia, Trump has received praise for his decisive actions in several international conflicts. His administration authorized a mission in June to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment sites, supporting Israel's security objectives in the region. This direct approach to international diplomacy has won him supporters across multiple continents.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee will review all nominations before announcing its decision later this year. Past American recipients include former presidents Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, and Theodore Roosevelt, along with civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and diplomat Henry Kissinger.
The five-day conflict between Thailand and Cambodia had rapidly escalated into the worst fighting between the two nations in the past decade. Military clashes along their disputed border resulted in dozens of casualties and created a humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands fled the violence.
The swift de-escalation following Trump's intervention prevented what experts feared could have developed into a protracted regional conflict.
Border tensions between the two countries have flared periodically for years, particularly around disputed temple sites and territorial claims. This latest resolution offers hope for more stable relations in Southeast Asia, a region of growing strategic importance to American foreign policy interests.
