KUALA LUMPUR, September 19 2026, Malaysia and Australia have agreed to establish a Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) to strengthen practical cooperation and further elevate their bilateral defence partnership.
The agreement was reached during the sixth Australia-Malaysia High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting in Geelong, Australia, co-chaired by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.
In a joint statement, both countries reaffirmed their longstanding defence partnership and commitment to regional peace, security and ASEAN centrality.
The SPC will identify priority areas for defence cooperation and oversee their implementation.
Both sides also welcomed expanding cooperation under the Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Programme, including Exercise Keris Strike 2026 in Sabah, increased maritime and special forces engagement, and greater opportunities for military education and personnel exchanges.
Malaysia and Australia also signed a renewed Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement to improve interoperability, logistical support and the ability of both defence forces to operate together during exercises, operations and other engagements.
The ministers noted progress on upgrades and runway remediation at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Butterworth Air Base, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Both countries will also explore establishing a Defence Science, Technology and Industry Working Group to identify mutually beneficial defence industry projects.
The two sides further agreed to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity and cyber resilience amid growing cyber threats in the Indo-Pacific.
-BERNAMA
