New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a two-day visit to Malaysia aimed at deepening defense and security cooperation and interacting with the Indian diaspora in the country. Prime Minister Modi said when announcing his departure on the 10th, “At the invitation of my friend Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, I will visit Malaysia, a country with deep-rooted and extensive ties with India. This visit will promote our comprehensive strategic partnership and strengthen cross-field cooperation.”
“Malaysia is home to a vibrant Indian diaspora. Looking forward to today’s community program in Kuala Lumpur where I will have the opportunity to interact with our diaspora,” he added.“The historic relationship between India and Malaysia has grown steadily in recent years. I look forward to discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to further strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership,” the Press Trust of India quoted a statement from Prime Minister Modi as saying.He further said, “We aim to deepen our defense and security ties, strengthen our economic and innovation partnerships, and expand our cooperation into new areas.”This visit is Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Malaysia and the first visit since the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in August 2024. Previously, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to an “enhanced strategic partnership” during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Malaysia in 2015. The two countries first established diplomatic relations in 1957.During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. India is also exploring defense cooperation opportunities, including the sale of Dornier aircraft and the maintenance of Scorpene-class submarines and SU-30 aircraft, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.The Prime Minister will engage with the Indian diaspora and business representatives in Malaysia. Malaysia has an Indian community of 2.9 million, making it the third largest Indian community and the second largest PIO community in the world, with a population of 2.75 million.Malaysia is an important partner of India in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region and a core pillar of India’s Look East Policy. Kuala Lumpur’s Torana Gate was unveiled in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, symbolizing the enduring friendship between the two countries.Prime Minister Modi had previously met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6, 2025, virtually participated in the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, and had a phone call with him on October 22.
