Cambodia announced that it will nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize after he helped stop a violent conflict between Cambodia and Thailand with a phone call. The country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sun Chanthol, shared the decision at a press event in Phnom Penh, where he said Trump played a key role in preventing the war from growing worse.
The fighting between Cambodia and Thailand began late last week, when both countries accused each other of starting the violence. Gunfire and clashes between troops on both sides led to the deaths of at least 43 people. Over 300,000 civilians had to leave their homes as the conflict grew more serious. The worst part of the fighting lasted five days.
On July 26, Trump phoned Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, according to Reuters.com. After that call, talks between the two countries were arranged. Two days later, both governments met in Malaysia and agreed to a ceasefire.
Cambodia’s leadership believes that Trump’s call was the turning point. Chanthol said Trump deserved the Peace Prize and praised his direct approach, saying it helped avoid a much larger tragedy in the region.
Cambodia Becomes Third Country to Support Trump’s Nobel Nod
Cambodia is not alone in its support for Trump. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently handed a letter to the Nobel Prize committee during a visit to the White House. He said Trump had helped Middle Eastern countries open up new ways to talk and work together, especially during the Abraham Accords back in 2020.
Pakistan has also expressed support. In June, its officials said they would nominate Trump for his role in helping to calm tensions between Pakistan and India in May.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year on December 10 in Oslo, Norway. It honors people or groups who have done work that brings peace between countries.
Tariff Change May Have Influenced Cambodia’s Support
Back in April, Trump announced a set of import taxes on foreign goods, calling it the “Liberation Day” plan. Cambodia was supposed to face a 49 percent tariff rate — the highest of any Southeast Asian country. That would have been devastating for the Cambodian economy, since the United States is its largest market for goods like clothes and shoes.
But on Friday, Trump cut that rate to 19 percent. This lower rate also applied to Thailand and Indonesia. Cambodia’s Deputy PM said he appreciated the change, which may have helped ease tensions on both sides of the border. Vietnam, on the other hand, got a 20 percent tariff rate.
Cambodia’s economy depends heavily on exports from large US brands like Gap, Levi’s, and Nike. A high tariff could have pushed some factories to close. The lower rate, paired with the peace efforts, seems to have built goodwill between the two countries.
Personal View: What Does This Mean?
Nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize will always be a topic that gets strong reactions. Still, if world leaders believe his direct calls helped stop real wars or conflicts, then the nomination holds weight. Cambodia’s case stands out because it links a real-time military crisis to a peaceful outcome that came almost instantly after one phone call.
Of course, critics may argue that trade deals and political favors influenced the nomination. But from a practical point of view, if a call leads to a ceasefire and people stop dying, it makes sense that such action would be noticed.
The Nobel committee has the final say. But Trump now has the backing of at least three different governments. That alone makes him a serious contender.
Sources: reuters.com
