KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia hopes Japan will continue providing defence assistance under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme in 2027 and beyond, with an expanded scope to strengthen the country's defence capabilities.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the matter was discussed during his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the third day of his working visit to Japan.
He said Malaysia expressed its appreciation to the Japanese government for assistance provided under the programme, including the supply of counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (counter-UAV) systems to Malaysia.
"Both sides also exchanged views on security developments in the Indo-Pacific, particularly the situation in the South China Sea, with Malaysia emphasising the importance of Asean unity in addressing regional security challenges and preserving peace and stability in the region," he said in a Facebook post.
The meeting also covered efforts to expand maritime cooperation, explore government-to-government (G2G) defence procurement arrangements and a proposal to hold annual meetings between the defence ministers of both countries, following his meeting with his Japanese counterpart yesterday.
Khaled said the discussions also touched on the longstanding educational ties between the two countries, including the establishment of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) and the University of Tsukuba campus in Malaysia, in line with the spirit of the Look East Policy.
He added that Malaysia regarded Japan as a trusted strategic partner, with bilateral ties expected to strengthen further ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027.
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