After Pakistan set a precedent earlier this year by nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, the world now seems to be following its lead. In a stunning diplomatic move, Cambodia has formally nominated the former US President for the prestigious award, crediting him for brokering a ceasefire that ended deadly border clashes with Thailand. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet praised Trump’s “visionary and innovative diplomacy” for bringing peace to Southeast Asia after five days of intense conflict that claimed 43 lives and displaced over 300,000 civilians.
PHNOM PENH – In what is being seen as another global acknowledgment of his controversial yet effective peace-brokering style, Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Cambodia, following his successful mediation that halted fierce border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia last month.
The nomination came through an official letter sent by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, commending Trump for his decisive role in restoring peace after one of the bloodiest Southeast Asian border clashes in years.
President Trump’s extraordinary statesmanship – marked by his commitment to resolving conflicts and preventing catastrophic wars through visionary and innovative diplomacy – was most recently demonstrated by his decisive role in brokering an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand,” Hun Manet wrote.
The Cambodian premier also hailed Trump’s recent decision to sharply reduce US tariffs on several Southeast Asian exports, calling it a sign of goodwill that helped ease regional tensions and encourage dialogue.
The Thai–Cambodian Conflict and Trump’s Intervention
The hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia erupted last month over a longstanding territorial dispute, leading to five days of cross border combat. At least 43 people were killed, and more than 300,000 civilians displaced, as the fighting escalated from small-arms exchanges to artillery and rocket fire, culminating in Thai F-16 airstrikes on Cambodian positions.
Efforts to broker peace initially stalled despite mediation attempts from ASEAN. However, according to diplomatic sources, a July 26 phone call from Donald Trump to both Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin changed the course of the conflict. The former US President reportedly urged both leaders to agree to an immediate ceasefire, followed by negotiations held in Malaysia under ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim, which successfully concluded on July 28.
A joint statement released after the talks credited Trump’s personal intervention, alongside mediation from Malaysia and China, for breaking the deadlock.
A Growing List of Nominations
Cambodia now joins Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Israel all of which have previously nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize citing his role in mediating global conflicts and reducing hostilities.
Pakistan was the first country to nominate Trump earlier this year, recognizing his behind the scenes role in facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. Following that, Azerbaijan and Armenia historic adversaries also endorsed his diplomatic involvement in achieving peace in the South Caucasus.
Observers say the latest Cambodian nomination demonstrates a growing trend of international recognition for Trump’s hands on approach to crisis management one that prioritizes swift communication and direct engagement over traditional diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Precedent
For Islamabad, this development is seen as validation of its early support for Trump’s peace initiatives. When Pakistan nominated the former US president earlier this year, many Western analysts dismissed the move as symbolic. However, with subsequent endorsements from Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and now Southeast Asian nations, it appears Pakistan’s diplomatic foresight may have paved the way for a global recognition of Trump’s mediation style.
A senior Pakistani diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked:
“Pakistan took the lead in acknowledging a reality others were reluctant to admit that Trump’s interventions, however unconventional, have repeatedly prevented wars. The world is now beginning to see that.”
As Cambodia becomes the latest nation to nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, the momentum around his international peace efforts appears to be building. What began with Pakistan’s bold move to recognize his mediation between Islamabad and New Delhi has now evolved into a global pattern of acknowledgment, stretching from the Caucasus to Southeast Asia.
Whether the Nobel Committee will act on these nominations remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Trump’s brand of diplomacy bold, direct, and unconventional is leaving its mark across continents.
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