Politics · Vietnam Bureau
Vietnam and Malaysia launch inaugural defence policy dialogue
Senior defence officials from Vietnam and Malaysia have held their first formal Defence Policy Dialogue, signalling a commitment to expand military cooperation between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. The talks, chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang and Malaysian Defence Secretary-General Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, took place in Hanoi on October 20.
LSN Vietnam ·
The inaugural Vietnam-Malaysia Defence Policy Dialogue represents a significant step in strengthening bilateral defence ties between the two nations. During the Hanoi meeting, officials identified key areas of mutual interest and agreed to pursue deeper cooperation across multiple defence sectors, reflecting growing strategic alignment in the region.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang and Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali jointly presided over the discussions, which brought together defence planners and policy experts from both countries. The dialogue framework is expected to facilitate regular high-level exchanges and enable the two nations to coordinate on regional security challenges.
The establishment of this formal policy dialogue channel comes as Vietnam-Malaysia relations have been expanding across economic and security domains. Malaysian Defence Ministry officials have noted that increased practical cooperation between the defence establishments will complement broader bilateral engagement.
The dialogue is anticipated to become a regular mechanism for defence officials to discuss shared security concerns, coordinate defence policies, and explore areas including military training, technology exchange, and maritime cooperation. The move underscores both nations' commitment to regional stability and their mutual interest in strengthening ASEAN defence partnerships.
Photo: The Ministry of National Defence headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, September 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Annie R. B. Elis via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).