India and Malaysia Strengthen Defence Ties at 13th MIDCOM Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur:
The 13th meeting of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) took place in Kuala Lumpur today, marking a significant step in the growing bilateral defence ties between the two nations. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh from India and Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence, Lokman Hakim Bin Ali. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing defence cooperation, noting the increasing frequency of engagements between their armed forces in recent years.
Discussions at the meeting focused on expanding bilateral defence collaborations and addressing regional and global security challenges. Key areas of cooperation, such as defence industry collaboration, maritime security, multilateral engagements, and emerging fields like cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI), were highlighted. Both sides agreed on the formation of a joint focus group aimed at tackling non-traditional maritime security threats, reflecting the commitment to deepening security ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
One of the significant outcomes of the meeting was the finalization of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Strategic Affairs Working Group, which will serve as a consultative mechanism to streamline progress in defence cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, the two sides agreed on the formation of a Su-30 Forum, aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Indian and Malaysian Air Forces, focusing on expertise exchange and best practices in Su-30 maintenance.
The Defence Secretary emphasized India’s defence industry’s capabilities, particularly its potential to collaborate with Malaysian companies and the Malaysian Armed Forces in enhancing their military capabilities and modernization efforts. He also extended congratulations to Malaysia for assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) and expressed best wishes for the successful conduct of these important meetings.
India reaffirmed its strong support for ASEAN centrality and unity, which aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific vision, and reiterated its commitment to Malaysia’s leadership in shaping the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting also underscored the importance of Malaysia as a key partner for India in the region, lying at the confluence of India’s Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
This meeting further solidified the strategic defence relationship between India and Malaysia, fostering greater collaboration in a wide range of areas, and reflecting both nations’ commitment to regional peace and security.
