KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry clarified Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks on Malaysia-US defence ties, confirming the October 30, 2025 instrument is a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), not an agreement.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the MoU, negotiated since 2020, covers bilateral cooperation in capacity building, military training, and defence science and technology.
“The signing of the Defence Cooperation MoU with the US is in the national interest to ensure Malaysia remains safe, sovereign and prosperous,” he said.
He noted it aligns with Malaysia’s neutral foreign policy and ASEAN’s ZOPFAN principles.
