WASHINGTON D.C., United States — Two major international peace agreements, championed by President Donald Trump as definitive proof of his negotiating capabilities, are currently on the verge of collapse. Violence has surged in Eastern Congo and along the Thai-Cambodian border, undermining ceasefires signed under U.S. supervision only recently.
The rapid deterioration of these pacts has triggered international alarm. In response to the renewed hostilities, countries involved in the African Great Lakes region and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued urgent calls on Tuesday for immediate de-escalation.
Both diplomatic interventions urged combatants to adhere to the terms of the deals, which President Trump has frequently cited to justify his self-designation as the “President of peace.”
Despite the setbacks, Trump projected confidence during a rally in Pennsylvania late Tuesday, suggesting personal intervention could resolve the Asian conflict.
“Tomorrow I’ll have to make a phone call,” Trump 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?’”
Crisis in the Great Lakes region
The flare-up in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) comes less than a week after Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda signed a “historic” agreement in Washington, D.C., in Trump’s presence.
However, the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Great Lakes—a coalition including the U.S., EU, UK, and France—issued a joint statement expressing “profound concern” regarding fighting in South Kivu. The violence is blamed on the Rwandan-backed M23 militia.
“The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to immediately halt their offensive operations in eastern DRC, in particular in South Kivu, and calls on the RDF to withdraw from eastern DRC and on M23 to return to its positions,” the group stated, referencing the protocols agreed upon in Washington.
The current reality on the ground contrasts sharply with the optimism displayed at the signing ceremony, where Trump declared, “It’s a great day for Africa, a great day for the world,” adding, “Today, we’re succeeding where so many others have failed.”
The U.S. State Department acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting it “is deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in eastern DRC, driving displacement and inflicting suffering on countless families.”
“The Trump administration continues to advance its diplomatic engagement on this important issue, working to ensure the full implementation of the recently signed agreements and restore stability on the ground,” the department added. “We are working closely with regional partners to uphold the commitments made and reinforce the ceasefire.”
Escalation on the Thai-Cambodian border
Simultaneously, a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, signed less than two months ago in Malaysia, is unraveling. The pact, heavily pushed by Trump, has failed to prevent recent clashes.
Following a weekend skirmish that injured two Thai soldiers, five days of subsequent fighting have resulted in dozens of deaths and the evacuation of over 100,000 civilians.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the deterioration in a statement: “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.”
A senior Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, stated that the President expects all parties involved; Thailand, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Congo—to “honour their commitments.” The official noted that the administration is monitoring the DRC closely and that Trump expects “immediate results.”
Broader diplomatic context
President Trump has repeatedly listed seven or eight international agreements as evidence of his diplomatic success.
These include deals between India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Israel and Iran, Kosovo and Serbia, and Egypt and Ethiopia.
However, several of these initiatives face significant challenges. An internationally endorsed plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza remains unfinalized, while efforts to halt the Russia-Ukraine conflict have thus far proven unsuccessful.
