HANOI – Malaysia and Vietnam have agreed to deepen their strategic defence partnership by expanding military training, maritime security cooperation and defence diplomacy, reaffirming their shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
The commitment was reaffirmed during Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s official working visit to Vietnam from August 5 to 6, marking another milestone in bilateral defence ties following the signing of the Malaysia-Vietnam Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2023.
Mohamed Khaled began the visit with a courtesy call on Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Le Minh Hung, where both sides discussed ways to strengthen technical defence cooperation, including officer training programmes, military education and maritime security initiatives.
The leaders also reaffirmed their support for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus as vital platforms for advancing regional security cooperation while upholding ASEAN Centrality.
The Malaysian Defence Minister later held bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, General Phan Văn Giang, to exchange views on emerging regional and global security developments.
Both ministers agreed to intensify cooperation through expanded military training exchanges and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the professionalism and interoperability of their armed forces.
Vietnam also expressed support for Malaysia’s continued emphasis on maritime cooperation, recognising its importance in maintaining peace, stability and respect for international law in Southeast Asia.
The visit aligns with Malaysia’s National Defence Strategic Plan 2026–2030, particularly its objective of strengthening international defence relations as a means of safeguarding national sovereignty and promoting regional security.
It also reflects the “Credible Partnership” pillar of Malaysia’s Defence White Paper, which identifies defence diplomacy as a key strategy for reinforcing strategic partnerships and addressing common security challenges.
As both countries continue to enhance defence engagement, the strengthened partnership is expected to contribute not only to bilateral cooperation but also to a more secure, stable and resilient ASEAN region.
