Two of Trump’s peace deals at risk as fighting surges in Congo and at Cambodia-Thailand border

In a significant setback to President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts, at least two of his recently brokered peace agreements are showing signs of collapse amid renewed violence. The deals, which Trump has repeatedly highlighted as evidence of his negotiating prowess, now face uncertain futures as fighting intensifies in the affected regions.

Less than a week after Congo and Rwanda signed an agreement in Washington under Trump’s oversight, deadly violence has erupted in Congo’s South Kivu region. The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes has expressed “profound concern” over the situation, where the Rwandan-backed M23 militia group has been blamed for the renewed hostilities.

“The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force to immediately halt their offensive operations in eastern DRC,” the group stated in a joint release, calling for Rwanda to withdraw its forces and for M23 to return to previously agreed positions. The statement represents a swift and dramatic deterioration of what the White House had called a “historic” agreement just days earlier.

When the deal was signed last Thursday with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda present, Trump declared: “It’s a great day for Africa, a great day for the world. Today, we’re succeeding where so many others have failed.”

The agreement had culminated months of peace efforts facilitated by the U.S., African Union, and Qatar, building upon an earlier deal signed in June. Now, international partners including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union are urging all parties to honor their commitments and de-escalate the situation.

Similarly troubling developments have emerged between Cambodia and Thailand. Just over a month after these nations signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords in Malaysia with Trump as a witness, fighting has intensified along their contested border.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement expressing concern about the escalation: “We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to return to the deescalatory measures outlined in the Oct. 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.”

The Cambodia-Thailand conflict has deteriorated rapidly following a weekend skirmish in which two Thai soldiers were injured. Five subsequent days of fighting have reportedly left dozens dead on both sides and forced the evacuation of over 100,000 civilians, marking a severe breach of the recently signed peace agreement.

Despite these setbacks, Trump expressed confidence at a Pennsylvania rally Tuesday evening that he could personally resolve the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. “Tomorrow I’ll have to make a phone call,” he told supporters. “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia?'”

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the president expects all parties to “honor their commitments” to halt violence. The official noted that the administration is monitoring the situation in Congo closely and that Trump has communicated his expectation for “immediate results” to both sides.

These developments cast a shadow over Trump’s repeated claims of diplomatic success. He has frequently cited seven or eight international agreements as proof of his peacemaking abilities, referring to himself as the “president of peace.”

However, other Trump-backed peace initiatives also face significant challenges. An internationally endorsed plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza remains unfinalized, with sporadic fighting continuing while a critical second phase remains under negotiation. His efforts to halt the Russia-Ukraine conflict have yet to yield substantial results.

Other agreements Trump has been involved with include those between India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Israel and Iran, Kosovo and Serbia, and Egypt and Ethiopia.

The State Department has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to diplomatic engagement on these issues, stating they are “working closely with regional partners to uphold the commitments made and reinforce the ceasefire” in the Congo situation.

As violence continues to unfold in these regions, international observers are closely watching whether Trump’s personal intervention can salvage the agreements or whether they will join the list of failed peace initiatives in these long-troubled regions.