The 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur on February 19, 2025, co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Malaysia’s Secretary General of Defence Ministry Mr. Lokman Hakim Bin Ali. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing bilateral defence cooperation and discussed ways to expand engagements in defence industry, maritime security, and multilateral forums.
Key highlights included the formation of a joint focus group to address maritime security threats and a renewed commitment to advancing new initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions also focused on cybersecurity and AI, as well as deepening collaboration on Su-30 aircraft maintenance through the establishment of a dedicated forum.
The meeting also finalized the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the creation of the Strategic Affairs Working Group, a consultative mechanism to progress bilateral defence ties.
Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh praised Malaysia’s leadership in ASEAN and reiterated India’s support for a stronger, unified ASEAN at the helm of Indo-Pacific affairs. He emphasized Malaysia’s strategic importance in India’s foreign policy frameworks such as Act East Policy, SAGAR, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
This meeting reinforced the commitment of both nations to continue strengthening defence ties and contribute to regional security and stability.
