Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Manet, has put forward the name of United States President, Donald Trump, for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his “extraordinary statesmanship” in helping to end a tense border clash between Cambodia and Thailand.
In a Facebook post late Thursday, Hun Manet revealed he had sent a formal letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee commending Trump’s role in easing hostilities, describing it as a demonstration of his “exceptional achievements in de-escalating tensions in some of the world’s most volatile regions.”
“This timely intervention, which averted a potentially devastating conflict, was vital in preventing a great loss of lives and paved the way towards the restoration of peace,” the Cambodian leader wrote.
According to Reuters, it was a phone call by Trump on July 26 to the leaders of both nations that broke a prolonged stalemate, paving the way for peace talks.
The diplomatic push resulted in a ceasefire signed in Malaysia on July 28. On Thursday, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to avoiding renewed clashes and agreed to allow Southeast Asian observers to monitor the situation.
The five-day conflict, one of the most intense in recent years, began with small arms fire but quickly escalated to heavy artillery and rocket attacks.
Thailand later deployed an F-16 fighter jet to carry out airstrikes. By the end, 43 people had lost their lives and over 300,000 had been forced from their homes.
The nomination had been widely anticipated after Cambodia’s deputy prime minister announced the plan last week, also expressing gratitude to Trump for slashing a proposed US tariff on Cambodian imports from 49% to 19%, a move he said spared the country’s vital garment industry from severe economic harm.
Cambodia’s proposal adds to a growing list of endorsements for Trump. In June, Pakistan announced it would recommend him for the prize for his involvement in easing tensions with India.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also said in July that he had nominated Trump for the award.
