Malaysia and Vietnam Strengthen Strategic Defence Cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Malaysia and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations, with both countries seeking broader cooperation in maritime affairs, military capability development, technology and the defence industry.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the commitment was discussed during his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng as part of his official visit to Vietnam.

Mohamed Khaled described Vietnam as a trusted and strategic partner, noting that the two countries already maintain close defence ties.

He said Malaysia and Vietnam share similar strategic perspectives and remain committed to ASEAN principles, with dialogue and diplomacy serving as the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability.

The meeting also covered a range of emerging security challenges affecting Southeast Asia and the wider international community.

Among the issues discussed were intensifying competition between major powers, grey-zone activities, cyber threats, artificial intelligence, modern and cognitive warfare, and disruptions to global supply chains.

Grey-zone activities generally refer to actions that fall between conventional diplomacy and open military conflict. Such activities may include maritime pressure, cyber operations, disinformation and other forms of strategic coercion.

Mohamed Khaled said the increasingly complex geopolitical environment requires ASEAN countries to reinforce their collective regional resilience through closer and more practical cooperation.

He stressed that stronger coordination among member states would be essential in responding to new security risks while preserving Southeast Asia’s stability and prosperity.

The Malaysia-Vietnam Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 will continue to serve as the main framework for advancing bilateral defence relations.

According to Mohamed Khaled, the agreement provides a roadmap for elevating cooperation between the two countries to a more strategic level.

Future cooperation is expected to include a greater focus on maritime security, an area of growing importance due to regional territorial concerns, commercial shipping activity and the need to safeguard vital sea routes.

Malaysia and Vietnam also plan to expand cooperation in capability development, which could include professional exchanges, training, knowledge-sharing and efforts to strengthen the readiness of their respective defence institutions.

Technology and defence-industry cooperation are also expected to receive greater attention as both countries respond to the increasing use of artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and advanced systems in modern security operations.

The discussions reflect Malaysia and Vietnam’s broader efforts to ensure that bilateral defence relations contribute to regional stability rather than focus solely on national military interests.

Both countries believe stronger strategic ties can support ASEAN’s central role in addressing security challenges through consultation, confidence-building and peaceful engagement.

Malaysia and Vietnam will continue using the 2023 memorandum as a foundation for expanding practical cooperation and reinforcing their shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity across the region.