India and Malaysia are deepening their defence cooperation, emphasizing maritime security, the defence industry, and collaboration in multilateral forums. The latest step in this growing partnership was the 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur on February 19, 2025. Discussions covered a range of topics, including cyber security, artificial intelligence, and expanding bilateral defence engagement.

A key highlight of the meeting was the exchange of finalised Terms of Reference (ToR) for setting up a Su-30 forum. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in maintaining their Sukhoi-30 (Su-30) combat aircraft fleets. Through this platform, both nations will share expertise and best practices in areas such as maintenance, technical support, training, and safety to improve overall operational efficiency.

Additionally, India and Malaysia agreed to establish a strategic affairs working group, which will act as a bridge between MIDCOM and its sub-committees, ensuring continued progress in bilateral defence cooperation. Recognizing the growing importance of maritime security, both sides also committed to forming a joint focus group to address non-traditional threats in the region.

During the discussions, India’s Defence Secretary Singh highlighted India’s strong defence sector and its potential for collaboration with Malaysian companies, particularly in capability enhancement and modernization. India reaffirmed its support for Malaysia’s role in regional security and unity, especially as Malaysia takes on the ASEAN chairmanship and leads the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). Malaysia is seen as a key partner in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, positioned at the crossroads of the Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

This growing defence partnership builds upon previous agreements, including a 1993 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, which has laid the foundation for joint ventures, training programs, and development projects. Earlier, in January 2025, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism, deradicalization, cyber security, maritime security, and the defence industry, signaling a broad and deepening strategic relationship. With these latest developments, India and Malaysia continue to strengthen their defence and security ties, reinforcing regional stability and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

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