Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Malaysia on February 7–8, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Discussions will cover defence, trade, and investment. The visit follows the elevation of India–Malaysia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024 and will be the Prime Minister’s first visit since that designation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides will review opportunities for cooperation in the defence sector. Areas under discussion include the sale of Dornier aircraft and the maintenance of Scorpene submarines and SU-30 aircraft.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will also interact with members of the Indian business community and industry representatives in Malaysia. Around 2.9 million people of Indian origin reside in Malaysia, forming the third-largest Indian diaspora globally and the second-largest within Malaysia. Trade ties and investment opportunities are also expected to be discussed.
Malaysia is a key partner for India in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region. Its role is significant within India’s Act East Policy, under which the visit aims to strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Torana Gate in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, stands as a symbol of India–Malaysia ties. It was jointly inaugurated on November 23, 2015, by Prime Minister Modi and the then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
India and Malaysia upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to India from August 19 to 21, 2024. Earlier, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Malaysia in 2015, the relationship was elevated to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1957.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have held multiple interactions in recent years. They met on July 6, 2025, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil. On October 26, 2025, Prime Minister Modi participated virtually in the 22nd ASEAN–India Summit, and on October 22, 2025, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues during a telephone conversation.
The visit will include discussions on security, economic, and technological cooperation under India’s Act East Policy.
