Русский
Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu held talks with the Director General of the National Security Council of Malaysia, Nushirwan Zainal Abidin during a visit to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, (February 26). This follows meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in September 2024 on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
Malaysia faces several problems related to the creeping problems of Islamization of politics, in addition to regional security issues including migrant refugees. Kuala Lumpur has also applied to join the BRICS, however Shoigu’s visit would suggest that Malaysia may be looking at a closer relationship with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The SCO has a great deal of security experience involving Islamic radicalisation, and includes countries with large Muslim populations such as Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, while the Maldives, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE are also all involved. Malaysia’s accession to the SCO seems a good fit, as many countries and international organisations now see the SCO as a rapidly evolving centre of the multipolar world, capable of actively confronting global and regional risks.
The next SCO annual heads of state meeting is still to be arranged but will be in China, probably in the autumn. Malaysia typically attends as a guest ASEAN member, however, an upgrade in their SCO participation can also be considered likely.
Malaysia has also expressed interest in acquiring Russian weapons, including the Su-30 multi-role heavy fighter, which is produced in Russia at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (Irkut Corporation) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ), as well as in India at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Malaysia has good relations in the sphere of trade and military-technical cooperation with both countries and is likely to consider increasing its military spending on Russian equipment, including aircraft of joint Russian-Indian production.
Further Reading
Malaysia Views ASEAN’s Russia Engagement As A “Development Lynchpin”
