India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation

• 28 Jun 2022

For Prelims: India-Malaysia Defense Cooperation, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Free Trade Agreement.

For Mains: India- Malaysia Relations and Recent developments.

Why in News?

Recently, Indian Defence Minister interacted with his Malaysian counterpart to deepen Defence Cooperation between the two countries.

• The Malaysian air force has been looking for 18 new light fighter jets with several nations, including South Korea, Pakistan, China and Sweden, making a pitch. The Indian offer is for the LCA Mk1A version.
• India has offered a dual package for the indigenous fighter jets as well as maintenance of the Russian origin Su30 MKM aircraft being operated by Malaysia.

What are the Highlights of the Meeting?

• Both countries highlighted the areas in which Indian defence industries could assist Malaysia. India invited senior officers from Malaysia to India to get a first-hand experience of the facilities and products of Indian defence industry.
• Malaysia expressed the need for inducting women personnel in peace keeping missions. Both sides agreed to engage each other on this issue.
• Both countries agreed to upgrade capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• Both sides discussed the existing defence cooperation activities and framework between the two countries, and ways to further enhance them under the existing Malaysia India Defence Cooperation Meeting (MIDCOM) framework.
  • The next MIDCOM is scheduled to held in July 2022, and it was decided to use this platform for a deeper engagement in defence.

What are the Key Points of India-Malaysia Relations?

• India established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957.
• Economic Relation: India and Malaysia have signed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). CECA is a kind of Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • India has also signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in services and investments with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
  • Malaysia is the third largest trading partner in ASEAN.
  • Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia is significantly biased in favour of Malaysia.
• Defence & Security Cooperation: Joint military exercises “Harimau Shakti” are held annually between the two countries.
• Traditional medicine: India and Malaysia have signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine in October 2010.
  • The Government of Malaysia has been working to popularize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems in Malaysia.
  • AYUSH systems are practiced in Malaysia.
• Recent Developments:
  • In 2020, India resumed purchases of Malaysian palm oil after a gap of four-month following a diplomatic row between the two countries.
    • The former Prime Minister of Malaysia had criticised India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which was considered as an interference in the internal matter of India.

What is the Significance of Malaysia for India?

• As a country where 7.2% of the population is of Indian origin, Malaysia assumes an important place in India’s foreign policy.
• Surrounded by busy sea lines of communications such as the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea, Malaysia is also a key pillar of India’s Act East policy and critical to India’s maritime connectivity strategies.

Source: TH