India and Malaysia have agreed to improve their defence ties by increasing cooperation in critical sectors such as maritime security, defence production, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The decision was made during the 13th meeting of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee, which was held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, India’s defence secretary, and Lokman Hakim Bin Ali, Malaysia’s defence secretary-general, co-chaired the meeting. Both parties engaged in comprehensive discussions about practical steps to strengthen bilateral defence engagements, as well as exchanging perspectives on regional and global security issues.
A notable outcome of the talks was the completion of the ‘Terms of Reference (ToR)’ for the establishment of a cooperative forum on Sukhoi-30 fighter jets. Both India and Malaysia employ Russian-made aircraft, and India has trained Malaysian pilots to fly them. The new forum will foster closer collaboration between the two air forces by sharing best practices in maintenance and operational expertise.
The two countries also agreed to look into new areas of defence partnership, particularly in defence industries and international initiatives. Furthermore, a joint focus group will be formed to address non-traditional maritime security issues, demonstrating their commitment to regional stability.
