Cambodia nominates US president for Nobel Peace Prize

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in brokering a ceasefire with Thailand and securing a trade deal that averted steep tariffs on Cambodian exports.

In a letter addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee and posted on his Facebook page, Hun praised Trump’s “extraordinary statesmanship” and his efforts to “resolve conflicts and prevent catastrophic wars”, Caliber.Az reports.

“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 in his decisive role in brokering an immediate and unconditional cease-fire between Cambodia and Thailand,” Hun wrote.

The five-day conflict erupted on July 24 when troops from both countries exchanged fire along a disputed stretch of their shared border — triggering several days of intense fighting, including shelling and airstrikes. At least 42 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced, in what became the worst cross-border clash between the two nations in decades.

According to the Cambodian government, Trump pressured both sides to reach a truce by threatening to halt trade talks unless a ceasefire was agreed. Within two days, officials from Thailand and Cambodia met in Malaysia and reached a deal to halt hostilities. Despite the agreement, tensions remain high along the border, with both sides continuing to trade accusations.

The nomination comes just a week after Cambodia and the United States finalised a trade deal that saw Washington impose a 19% tariff on Cambodian goods — considerably lower than the 49% rate initially threatened by the Trump administration. Cambodian officials had expressed deep concern over the higher tariff, which they said could have severely impacted the country’s export-reliant economy.

Trump, who has long expressed a desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, has also been nominated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by the government of Pakistan, both citing his diplomatic record in their respective regions.

However, some former diplomats have questioned the long-term impact of President Trump’s approach to diplomacy.

“The fact that you threaten someone and they momentarily stop what they’re doing, that’s fine, but what are they going to do when your back is turned or when our attention is focused on something else?” said Charles A. Ray, who served as the US ambassador to Cambodia from 2003 to 2005.

“My concern is that when you’re transactional, you’re looking at very short-term gains, and it doesn’t provide long-term solutions,” he added.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee does not comment on nominations, which are confidential for 50 years. The Peace Prize winner is typically announced in October.

By Aghakazim Guliyev