(Cambodia, Phnom Penh-October, 21, 2025): In the final days leading up to the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, the political atmosphere in both Phnom Penh and Bangkok has been filled with anticipation and hope — a sense that reconciliation and lasting peace may finally be within reach.

Yet, under the calm blue sky of peace, an important question remains on the minds of political observers both at home and abroad:
“Once signed, will this agreement remain firm — or could it eventually be altered or ignored?”
Before delving into this crucial question, it is worth reviewing the latest activities carried out this week by technical teams from both countries.

*Final Verification Before the Signing

Before the world witnesses the historic signing ceremony between Cambodia and Thailand — in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — technical officials from both sides have completed the final formal verification of all key points to be included in the peace agreement.
This week, ahead of the scheduled signing on October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, the GBC (General Border Committee) and JBC (Joint Boundary Committee) have been working intensively to ensure that the peace framework rests on solid technical and legal verification.

The GBC is responsible for military and security operations along the border, ensuring that both sides fully observe the ceasefire. Meanwhile, the JBC focuses on map verification and the confirmation of boundary lines in accordance with the 2000 and 2001 Memorandums of Understanding.

These meetings have aimed to validate every technical and legal condition — from the clearance of landmines and the withdrawal of heavy weapons, to a re-verification of the current border line and the establishment of a designated Peace Zone along the frontier. This zone will symbolize the shared commitment of both nations to maintain enduring peace.
The work of the two committees marks one of the most significant steps in forming a credible and enforceable peace framework — a final milestone to guarantee that the peace both countries seek will be real, legal, and sustainable.

This framework is built upon international law, mutual verification, and the ASEAN spirit, ensuring that the agreement is not merely a political promise on paper, but a binding legal instrument that can be implemented in practice.

*Will the Agreement Last?

A key question being debated by analysts and citizens across the region is:
How long will the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement endure after its signing?
The short answer is: it can — and it may not.

Its survival depends on the same lessons the world has witnessed from past peace accords. Like other historic treaties, the stability of this agreement will not depend on ceremonial grandeur, but on the sincerity of implementation and the determination of both countries to keep peace alive beyond the ink and signatures.

According to international experience and analysis of previous peace accords, the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement will remain stable as long as both countries continue to uphold the agreed principles, implement them faithfully, and regard peace as a shared national legacy. This means that peace must be realized in action, not merely in words, for it is the only path to ensure its longevity. In essence, peace cannot be sustained by signatures alone, but by genuine implementation and a spirit of cooperation.

Yet, there is one decisive factor that gives this treaty exceptional strength — the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.

*The Weight of a Superpower’s Guarantee

This agreement was not only signed between Cambodia and Thailand but officially guaranteed by the United States. The presence of President Donald Trump adds both political weight and a sense of security to the accord.
When a great power acts as a guarantor, the peace it supports becomes far more difficult to break.
Thus, the Kuala Lumpur Treaty is now being recognized as a model of “guaranteed peace” — one reinforced by both legal authority and global political power, contributing to broader regional stability.

*The United States: A Political and Strategic Power

Thailand maintains a long-standing relationship with the United States, particularly in the realms of defense, security, and trade. The naming of the U.S. as a peace witness carries a clear implication:
If Thailand violates the agreement, it will no longer be treated as a domestic issue but as an international breach, risking its strategic ties with Washington.
Thailand also knows that the United States has the leverage — both economic and military — to apply pressure swiftly should any violation occur.

*Donald Trump’s Direct Influence

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement is not merely a product of Cambodian and Thai diplomacy; it is also an outcome of Donald Trump’s “Peace Through Law” doctrine, which seeks to demonstrate that the United States can foster peace through diplomacy rather than conflict.

As long as Donald Trump remains in power, Thailand will not dare to act in any way that undermines a treaty personally witnessed by him.
To breach such a peace would be, in effect, to play with fire against a superpower.

President Trump has consistently shown firmness in demanding that parties honor their commitments. Thai leaders understand well that violating this agreement could provoke immediate and severe responses, particularly through harsh economic sanctions.

Given the current geopolitical landscape, Thailand has no room to risk altering or violating the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement.

Conclusion៖

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement is far more than a routine diplomatic ceremony between Cambodia and Thailand. It represents a new political identity — a conscious decision by both nations to turn the page from an era of conflict to an era of cooperation and peace.

It also stands as a historic accord backed by a global superpower, with the United States as guarantor and President Donald Trump symbolizing international confidence in this peace framework.

This is not a temporary peace but one rooted in international law and strengthened by a spirit of cooperation and American commitment.

Thailand will not dare to violate or amend this treaty while Donald Trump remains in power. To do so would be tantamount to defying a superpower and jeopardizing its own strategic future.

Thus, the Kuala Lumpur Peace is emerging as a new symbol of “guaranteed peace” — a balance of legal authority and political influence.

For Cambodia, it marks another historic step — not on a battlefield of war, but on a battlefield of patience, justice, and diplomacy, in line with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s philosophy of “Quiet but not Silent.”