Monday 7 April 2025
Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur
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The 13thmeeting of the Malaysia-India Defense Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) took place in Kuala Lumpur on February19,2025. Both sides expressed happiness at the growing bilateral defense cooperation with regular engagements between the two Armed Forces in recent years. The meeting was co-chaired by Defense Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense,MalaysiaMr Lokman Hakim Bin Ali.
The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defense engagements and regional & global issues.
Both chairs identified steps to further enhance cooperation in emerging areas such as cyber security and AI. They identified ways to deepen existing collaboration, particularly in the defense industry, maritime security, and multilateral engagements. They agreed to form a joint focus group to address non-traditional maritime security threats.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the new initiatives under the defense pillar of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as envisioned by Prime Minister ShriNarendra Modiand his Malaysian counterpartDato Seri AnwarIbrahimduring the latters visit toIndia in August 2024.
India and Malaysia also exchanged the finalized Terms of Reference (ToR) on the establishment of Strategic Affairs Working Group. This forum will act as a consultative mechanism intermediate between the MIDCOM and the two sub-committees to progress all aspects of bilateral defense cooperation.
Both sides also exchanged the finalized ToR on the establishment of Su-30 forum as an outcome of MIDCOM. Su-30 Forum will enable closer cooperation between the two Air Forces in exchanging expertise and best practices in Su-30 maintenance.
The Defense Secretary highlighted the capability of the Indian defense industry, particularly its potential to collaborate with the Malaysian companies and the Armed Forces in their capability enhancement and modernization. He congratulated Malaysia on assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus and wished MoD, Malaysia the best for conduct of ADMM Plus and ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting this year.
India supports ASEAN centrality and unity, which is a crucial element of India’s Indo-Pacific Vision. The Defense Secretary reiterated Indias support to Malaysias endeavors as ASEAN chair in promoting a stronger, unified, and prosperous ASEAN that plays a central role in shaping the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.
India considers Malaysia as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific as Malaysia lies at the confluence of three key foreign policy visionsi.e.Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
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