New Delhi, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : Malaysia’s interest in acquiring the BrahMos air-to-surface missile system, developed jointly by India and Russia, could decrease its dependence on the United States and allied nations for defense needs. This development follows a meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Kamlesh Kumar, Associate Director at the strategic consulting firm Asia Group Advisors, noted that closer ties with India provide Malaysia with a significant economic and security partner without explicitly aligning with any one bloc.
The report indicates that India could emerge as a crucial new ally in Malaysia’s defense partnerships. Prime Minister Ibrahim expressed interest in the BrahMos missile system during his visit to India, which also coincided with his attendance at the BRICS summit on September 12-13, where Malaysia participated as a partner country.
Kumar emphasized that diversifying defense partnerships aims to maintain strategic autonomy. He warned that this move could raise concerns in China. The BrahMos missile’s range and versatility might alter perceptions of Malaysia’s deterrence capabilities in the South China Sea, a region where both China and Malaysia assert territorial claims.
If Malaysia proceeds with the acquisition, Kumar stated it must clarify that the purpose is to enhance national security, not to target any specific nation.
Economics professor Yah Kim Leng from Sunway University highlighted that the economic ties between India and Malaysia have not yet reached their full potential. Trade between the two nations amounted to 79.3 billion ringgit in 2025, which is significantly lower compared to their over 900 billion ringgit trade with the U.S. and China. This comes after both nations signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in 2024.
Eric Loh, a partner at the Kuala Lumpur-based strategic advisory firm Densu, remarked that strengthening ties with India does not mean distancing from China or the U.S. Instead, it expands Malaysia’s economic and strategic options, potentially bolstering its position in the long term.
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