The Indian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy convened for the 10th edition of their Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks on June 10 in Kuala Lumpur, with the primary aim of enhancing maritime cooperation and planning future engagements between the two nations. The Indian delegation was led by Rear Admiral Shantanu Jha, while the Royal Malaysian Navy was represented by First Admiral Harisundar Rajoo, Senior Director of Operations and Training.
During the talks, the two sides engaged in discussions focusing on their ongoing naval collaboration, setting the stage for the expansion of joint initiatives. These conversations reflect both countries’ shared commitment to maintaining peace and security in the increasingly dynamic Indo-Pacific region. The dialogue is part of India’s broader strategy to deepen maritime and strategic ties with nations in Southeast Asia.
Concurrently, India’s Secretary (East), P. Kumaran, conducted a series of high-level diplomatic meetings on the margins of the East Asia Summit Senior Officials’ Meeting (EAS SOM) in Penang, Malaysia. During these discussions, he engaged with Hajah Johariah Binti Abdul Wahab, the Permanent Secretary of Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exploring avenues to strengthen India-Brunei relations and enhance regional cooperation within ASEAN frameworks.
Kumaran’s agenda also included meetings with Michelle Chan, Deputy Secretary of the South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, Australia. They addressed various bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Additionally, Kumaran met with Ambassador Kung Phoak, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, reaffirming India’s commitment to enhancing its ties within the ASEAN structure.
The East Asia Summit comprises 18 nations, including the 10 ASEAN countries, along with India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. The Senior Officials’ Meeting is crucial for setting the agenda for ministerial and leadership-level summits, contributing to the fostering of multilateral engagement across the Indo-Pacific region.
