India, Malaysia Review Defence Cooperation at 12th Military Sub Committee Meeting

India and Malaysia reviewed the full spectrum of their bilateral military cooperation during the 12th India-Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting on Military Cooperation (SCMC) held in New Delhi, reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, security, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Amitabh Prasad, and Assistant Chief of Staff (Defence Operations & Training) of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Major General Amer Mahmud Bin Abdul Rahman.

During the discussions, both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady progress in defence ties and reviewed ongoing cooperation, including military exchanges, joint exercises, training programmes, staff talks, capacity building initiatives, maritime cooperation, and collaboration in emerging domains.

The two countries agreed to further strengthen military cooperation by enhancing professional exchanges and increasing participation in each other’s military training courses and institutions. They also explored opportunities to expand collaboration in defence manufacturing, defence technology, cybersecurity, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

India and Malaysia appreciated each other’s active participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting practical cooperation under the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. The delegations also exchanged views on regional and global security developments and reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific in accordance with international law.

The meeting highlighted the importance of defence cooperation as a key pillar of the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Both countries reaffirmed their resolve to deepen bilateral defence relations based on mutual trust, shared interests, and a common vision for a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The SCMC serves as the principal military-to-military consultation mechanism between India and Malaysia and lays the groundwork for the India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation Meeting at the Defence Secretary level. Participants reviewed progress since the previous SCMC and expressed confidence that the outcomes would contribute to productive discussions at the forthcoming Defence Cooperation Meeting.

During the visit, the Malaysian delegation also met Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and visited the DPSU Bhawan at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi. Earlier, the head of the Malaysian delegation paid tribute to India’s fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.

Source: PIB