Malaysia and Thailand accelerate defense cooperation MoU

Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to speed up the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation that is expected to be concluded later this year. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the MoU will broaden joint defence activities, support the development of local defence industries and enhance border security. Malaysia will host the 57th meeting of the Malaysia‑Thailand Joint Border Committee, which will address issues such as cross‑border crime, illegal immigration, smuggling and disaster management.

The two sides also discussed the participation of Thai officers in Malaysia’s Defence Cooperation Program and reaffirmed Malaysia’s role as a facilitator of the Southern Thailand peace dialogue. Malaysia pledged full support to the newly appointed Thai peace‑dialogue chief, Thanut Suvarnananda, while stressing that any violence in Southern Thailand is a matter for Thailand’s sovereign authorities. “We will give all cooperation to the new dialogue chief so that the goal of peace and stability in Southern Thailand can be achieved,” Nordin said.