Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to bolster defence cooperation, a move aimed at enhancing peace, stability, and prosperity within ASEAN, as stated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. This commitment was underscored during a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen Phan Van Giang, held during Mohamed Khaled's two-day official visit to Vietnam.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the discussions between the two countries focused on various areas of cooperation, including bilateral military training, intelligence sharing, maritime domain awareness, and submarine rescue operations. The meeting also addressed emerging security challenges such as grey zone activities, with a particular interest in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and boosting defence industry collaboration.
Mohamed Khaled proposed strengthening the cooperation mechanism through the High-Level Committee to ensure effective coordination and implementation of initiatives. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability in regional strategic developments, including the South China Sea issue, through dialogue, diplomacy, and adherence to international law, while advocating for the conclusion of a meaningful Code of Conduct (COC).
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) noted that Mohamed Khaled's visit signifies the ongoing commitment of both nations to elevate defence relations, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation on November 4, 2023. His visit commenced with a courtesy call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The discussions also explored the future direction of technical cooperation, focusing on the coordination of courses and training programs for military officers, along with efforts to enhance maritime security. Both countries reiterated their commitment to the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus platforms to ensure these multilateral frameworks remain effective in line with ASEAN Centrality.
MINDEF emphasized that this visit aligns with the aspirations of Malaysia's National Defence Strategic Plan 2026-2030, specifically through Core 6, which focuses on strengthening international defence relations to safeguard national sovereignty. The bilateral defence diplomacy supports the main pillar of Competent Partnership outlined in the Defence White Paper, thereby reinforcing national security, regional stability, and global peace.