The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary at India’s Ministry of Defence, Shri Amitabh Prasad and Assistant Chief of Staff for Defence Operations and Training of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Major General Amer Mahmud Abdul Rahman.
KUALA LUMPUR: India and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence cooperation following the 12th India–Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting on Military Cooperation (SCMC), held in New Delhi on July 1.
The meeting, which serves as the principal military-to-military consultative mechanism between the two countries, reviewed ongoing defence collaboration and explored new areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening the India–Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary at India’s Ministry of Defence, Shri Amitabh Prasad and Assistant Chief of Staff for Defence Operations and Training of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Major General Amer Mahmud Abdul Rahman.
Both delegations expressed satisfaction with the steady progress achieved in military-to-military engagements, including bilateral exercises, training programmes, staff talks, capacity-building initiatives, maritime cooperation and collaboration in emerging domains.
They also agreed to expand professional military exchanges, increase participation in training programmes and strengthen cooperation in defence industry, defence technology, cybersecurity, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
The two sides also acknowledged their continued cooperation under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework and reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific in accordance with international law.
In conjunction with the SCMC, the 11th Indian Navy–Royal Malaysian Navy Staff Talks were also held in New Delhi and concluded on July 1.
The naval talks were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) of the Indian Navy, and Rear Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Mohd Fadzli Kamal Mohd Mohaldin, Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations and Training) of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Discussions centred on strengthening bilateral naval engagements, enhancing maritime cooperation and advancing joint efforts to bolster maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Both countries expressed confidence that the outcomes of the SCMC and the naval staff talks would further enhance defence cooperation while contributing to regional peace, stability and security.
During the visit, the Malaysian delegation also paid a courtesy call on India’s Defence Secretary, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, visited the DPSU Bhawan at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi, and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in tribute to India’s fallen servicemen.
