KUALA LUMPUR, December 18 – In an official visit on December 8, 2023, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, Minister for Armed Forces of France, and YB Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Defence Malaysia, engaged in a productive discussion, emphasizing their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and address common strategic concerns. Both Ministers reiterated the centrality of ASEAN and welcomed France’s role as an observer in the ADMM+ framework. They pledged to collaborate on regional and international issues, with a specific focus on maintaining the South China Sea as a zone of peace, stability, and trade, adhering to international laws such as UNCLOS 1982.
Additionally, they emphasized stability in the Middle East and reaffirmed their commitment to the UNIFIL. The leaders underscored their dedication to enhancing defence cooperation, particularly in military-to-military collaboration and defence science, technology, and industry. They agreed to commence negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement and planned to resume the Malaysia-France Defence Joint High Strategic Committee meeting in 2024. As a significant development, both Ministers witnessed the signing of a Letter of Agreement for the GM400 Long Range Air Defence Radar, highlighting the importance of defence partnerships between the two nations.
