On February 19, 2025, the 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Malaysia, Mr. Lokman Hakim Bin Ali. Both nations expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral defence cooperation, with a focus on increasing regular engagements between the Armed Forces of India and Malaysia.
The two sides engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening their defence ties and addressing regional and global security issues. The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in emerging fields such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as increasing cooperation in the defence industry, maritime security, and multilateral engagements.
A joint focus group was proposed to tackle non-traditional maritime security threats, further solidifying the commitment to regional peace and security. Both nations also finalized the Terms of Reference (ToR) for establishing a Strategic Affairs Working Group, which will act as an intermediary body to advance all aspects of defence cooperation.
The meeting also led to the finalization of the Su-30 Forum, which will enhance collaboration between the Air Forces of both countries, focusing on the exchange of expertise in the maintenance of Su-30 aircraft.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted India’s growing defence industry capabilities, emphasizing the potential for collaboration with Malaysian companies and military forces. He also praised Malaysia for assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), offering India’s support for Malaysia’s leadership in promoting a unified and prosperous ASEAN region.
The discussions reaffirmed India’s support for ASEAN centrality and the region’s role in shaping the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, with Malaysia being a crucial partner in this vision.
