Fighter Jets, Submarines, Semiconductors: PM Modi Heads to Malaysia - What's On Agenda?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Malaysia from February 7-8 to hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. This marks PM Modi's third visit to Malaysia and the first since bilateral relations were elevated to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in August 2024, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)."The historic ties between India and Malaysia have seen steadfast progress in recent years," PM Modi said in a departure statement. "I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and further enhancing our comprehensive strategic partnership," he said."We will aim to deepen our defence and security ties, enhance our economic and innovation partnership, and expand our collaboration into new

domains," he added.India is exploring opportunities for collaboration across the defence sector during Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Malaysia, including the sale of Dornier aircraft, maintenance of Scorpene submarines and SU-30 aircraft, the MEA said on Thursday. The visit is also expected to deepen cooperation in security, digital economy, and semiconductors, while further solidifying India's 'Mahasagar' and Indo-Pacific visions.During his visit, PM Modi will also interact with the members of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia and other business representatives.

'Historic in many ways'

India's High Commissioner to Malaysia, BN Reddy, termed the upcoming trip "historic," noting it marks the first prime ministerial visit since the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024.Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "It is an historic visit in many ways, though it is the third visit of Honorable Prime Minister of India to Malaysia, but this visit is also the first in terms of after India and Malaysia have elevated the bilateral relations to what is called the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was in August 2024, when Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim visited India."Reddy stated that the talks would focus on implementing initiatives launched during Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim's visit to India last year, as well as those launched over the last 18 months."So the visit would be focusing more on implementation of several of the, review the implementation of some of the initiatives that have been launched in 2024 in India, and to take a new dimension, add new dimensions to the ongoing cooperation," said India's High Commissioner to Malaysia.Malaysia has a 2.9 million-strong Indian diaspora, the third-largest in the world, and the second-largest PIO community (2.75 million). Malaysia is an important partner for India in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific, and a key pillar of India's Act East Policy.(With agency inputs)