Cambodia to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

08/05/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

The Cambodian government announced plans to nominate President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his mediation in brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand.
Trump applied economic pressure – threatening to withhold trade deals – to force an end to violent border clashes that displaced thousands and killed dozens. A truce was agreed upon in late July following negotiations.
The Trump administration eased punitive tariffs on Cambodian exports (from 49 percent to 19 percent), strengthening regional ties and incentivizing diplomatic cooperation.
This marks Trump’s third nomination in 2026, following recommendations from Israel (for supporting Israel against Hamas) and Pakistan (for averting war with India).
While the ceasefire halted immediate violence, critics argue lasting peace requires further talks to permanently resolve the contested border dispute. The nomination highlights Trump’s strategy of linking trade incentives to diplomacy.

The Cambodian government announced plans to nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his direct intervention in mediating a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chantol confirmed the development on Friday, Aug. 1. He praised Trump’s role in pressuring both Bangkok and Phnom Penh toward peace, ending a deadly border conflict that displaced hundreds of thousands and killed dozens.

“Trump has shown great interest in Cambodia’s bitter history, as well as his willingness to help the Cambodian people achieve peace,” Chanthol told reporters, according to the Khmer Times. The deputy prime minister also credited Trump’s administration for easing punitive U.S. tariffs on Cambodian exports, strengthening economic relations in the region.

The violent clashes erupted last week when Cambodia accused Thai forces of killing one of its soldiers along the contested border, triggering retaliatory strikes from both sides. Thailand escalated the conflict with cluster munitions, justifying their use by pointing out that the kingdom is not a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Both parties agreed to a truce Monday, July 28, following negotiations in the Malaysian city of Putrajaya. Officials confirmed Trump applied economic leverage, threatening to withhold trade deals unless hostilities ceased. (Related: Thailand and Cambodia reach CEASEFIRE following U.S. pressure.)

Tariffs instead of bullets: Trump’s unconventional peace strategy

This marks Trump’s third Nobel nomination this year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recommended him in July for supporting Israel against Hamas, while Pakistan nominated him in June for averting war with India. Netanyahu’s nomination is questionable, however, as no peace has resulted and the conflict in Gaza appears to have worsened.

Trump confirmed his tactics on Truth Social, writing that ongoing U.S. trade negotiations with Thailand and Cambodia hinged on ending the conflict: “I have told them so!” In an interview with Breitbart News, he warned that unchecked wars cripple economies for decades, adding, “People were being killed at the border – a lot.”

The ceasefire concluded the worst fighting between the nations in over a decade, though their territorial dispute traces back more than a century. The Trump administration originally planned 49 percent tariffs on Cambodian goods, potentially devastating its garment industry.

Later talks managed to reduce to tariff to a manageable 19 percent, with Chanthol noting that Cambodia “can compete” with that rate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt meanwhile demanded that Trump be given the Nobel Peace Prize.

For the real estate mogul, the nomination underscores his broader strategy of leveraging economic ties to compel diplomatic resolutions – a recurring theme in his foreign policy. If successful, Nobel recognition could amplify his legacy as a dealmaker in global conflicts. But critics argue that lasting peace hinges on further talks between Bangkok and Phnom Penh – not just temporary ceasefires – to address the contested border permanently.

As Cambodia finalizes Trump’s nomination, analysts note the convergence of trade incentives and conflict mediation reflects shifting U.S. power dynamics in Southeast Asia. Whether the Norwegian Nobel Committee agrees remains uncertain – but for now, Cambodia and Thailand have stepped back from war.

Watch Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announcing that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a ceasefire in this video.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.