India-Malaysia agrees to formulate mechanism to expand defence engagements

India and Malaysia have toger agreed to establish a Strategic Affairs working Group (SAWG) to formulate a consultative mechanism to expand bilateral defence engments and to handle all aspects of defence cooperation between two countries. t only this, both sides assessed existing defence cooperation between two countries and held wide-ranging discussions on issues of mutual interest including regional issues. decision was taken at 12th meeting of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) held in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

Ministry of Defence later issued a statement, briefing about meeting that took place between India and Malaysia in national capital co-chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Deputy Secretary General (Policy), Malaysia Mohd Yani bin Daud.

Steps aticulated to expand cooperation in cyber security

As per information shared by ministry, during 12th meeting of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM), both sides reviewed outcomes of two sub-committee meetings, including sub-committee meeting on military cooperation held on July 27th, 2023 and joint sub-committee on Defence Science Techlogy and Industry Cooperation held on September 18th, 2023.

During meeting, both sides assessed existing defence cooperation and explored effective and practical initiatives to furr expand bilateral defence engments. two sides also agreed to establish SAWG to formulate a consultative mechanism intermediate between MIDCOM and two sub-committees to handle all aspects of defence cooperation. 

Apart from this, two sides also articulated steps in direction of emerging areas of cooperation like cyber security and issues pertaining to global commons and identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in field of defence industry, maritime security and multilateral cooperation.

defence secretary shared an eight-point proposal with Malaysian side to expand cooperation on a wide range of areas such as government to government-level engment, tri-service cooperation, training, UN peacekeeping, bilateral services engment, defence industrial cooperation, research & development and regional or sub-regional engments.

Additionally, defence secretary highlighted potential of domestic defence industry with capacity and capability to cooperate with Malaysian Armed Forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans. Both countries reaffirmed ir commitment to fully implement enhanced strategic partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law.

As part of visit, Malaysian delegation also interacted with DRDO officials and identified areas of mutual interest. delegation is scheduled to visit Mumbai on September 20th for interactions at Mazagaon Dockyard Limited and Headquarters, Western Naval Command.