NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 1
India and Malaysia have reaffirmed their growing strategic defence partnership, agreeing to widen military cooperation across traditional and emerging domains while underscoring their shared commitment to a free, secure and stable Indo-Pacific.
The renewed momentum came during the 12th India-Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting on Military Cooperation (SCMC) held in New Delhi on Tuesday, where senior defence officials from both countries reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral military engagement and outlined a roadmap for deeper collaboration.
- India and Malaysia comprehensively review bilateral military ties during the 12th Sub Committee Meeting on Military Cooperation in New Delhi.
- Both nations agree to expand defence exchanges, joint training, maritime cooperation, cyber security and defence technology collaboration.
- New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur reaffirm their shared commitment to peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
- Dialogue reinforces defence cooperation as a key pillar of the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (Ministry of Defence) Amitabh Prasad, while the Malaysian side was headed by Maj Gen Amer Mahmud Bin Abdul Rahman, Assistant Chief of Staff, Defence Operations and Training, Malaysian Armed Forces.
The discussions covered a broad range of defence engagements, including military-to-military exchanges, bilateral exercises, professional training, staff talks, capacity building, maritime cooperation and collaboration in emerging operational domains.
Recognising the steady progress made in recent years, both sides agreed to further intensify exchanges between their armed forces by increasing participation in each other’s military institutions, expanding professional interactions and enhancing operational cooperation.
The dialogue also explored new opportunities in defence manufacturing, defence technology, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)—areas increasingly viewed as vital to future defence partnerships.
Both delegations welcomed each other’s active role under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation through the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, reflecting their common resolve to address evolving regional security challenges.
A key highlight of the meeting was the exchange of views on regional and global security developments, with both countries reiterating their support for peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, in accordance with international law.
Officials described defence cooperation as a cornerstone of the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership, emphasising that mutual trust, shared strategic interests and regular military dialogue continue to strengthen bilateral ties.
The SCMC serves as the principal military-to-military consultative mechanism between India and Malaysia and lays the groundwork for the higher-level India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation Meeting, chaired by the Defence Secretaries of both nations.
As part of the visit, the Malaysian delegation called on Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, visited DPSU Bhawan at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi, and paid tribute to India’s fallen soldiers with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, highlighting the spirit of mutual respect that underpins the expanding defence relationship.
