Malaysia-Australia defence ties set for deeper strategic cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Australia are set to strengthen their defence ties following a visit by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin to Australia. Khaled began his trip by meeting with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to discuss current security developments and mutual challenges. He will then travel to Geelong for a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to explore new areas for defence cooperation.

The visit culminates in the sixth Malaysia-Australia High-Level Committee Meeting on Friday, which Khaled will co-chair with Marles. The meeting aims to assess progress in defence cooperation, identify new opportunities, and chart the future direction of bilateral ties. Malaysia and Australia have a long history of defence relations and cooperation, both in times of war and peace, and continue to build upon mutual trust and confidence.

The relationship is further strengthened through platforms such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). As the global security landscape becomes increasingly complex, Khaled emphasized the need to strengthen and elevate the relationship from cooperation to more strategic, substantive, and outcome-oriented collaboration.