
Khaled Nordin: Malaysia, Germany continue to strengthen defence cooperation
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the matter was among those discussed during his meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 Forum held here.
'Germany and Malaysia enjoy good relations in the field of defence, and we deeply value the cooperation that has been fostered over the years. Whenever the opportunity arises, we make it a point to meet and exchange views on the current geopolitical and security landscape,' he said when met here yesterday.
'Germany and Malaysia have good relations in the field of defence, and we greatly appreciate the level of cooperation that has been established over the years. Whenever there is an opportunity, we will meet to exchange views on the current geopolitical and security situation,' he said when met here yesterday.
He also welcomed ASEAN's decision to accept Germany as an observer country in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), while hoping that the country would play a meaningful role in the regional security platform.
'Malaysia is grateful for Germany's willingness to join the ADMM as an observer and is confident that this participation will contribute to the peace and stability of the Southeast Asian region,' he said.
At the meeting, Mohamed Khaled said Germany also expressed its intention to sign a Letter of Intent with Malaysia to facilitate and expedite all forms of defence cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, both parties are currently discussing and finalising the document.
He also expressed appreciation for Malaysia's participation in the 'Enable and Enhance' programme, which is an initiative by Germany to help build the defence capabilities of partner countries.
'We greatly appreciate the contributions under this programme and hope that it will continue, especially by the newly formed German government,' he said.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled also expressed Malaysia's hope that the training opportunities for Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilots in the A400M simulator in Germany can continue, given that the aircraft is also used by the country.
'I also suggest that Germany consider opening up training opportunities for Malaysian military personnel in technology-related fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, which are increasingly important in today's defence landscape,' he said.
He said the meeting reflected the determination of both countries in building more sustainable defence cooperation, in line with increasingly challenging global security needs. — BERNAMA
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
Jordan FM says Israel killing all prospects for regional peace
MOSCOW: Jordan's foreign minister declared on Wednesday that Israel's military assault on Gaza has resulted in massacres and widespread starvation while systematically destroying any possibility for regional peace. His statement followed Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz authorising plans to capture Gaza City, a densely populated urban area housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the northern part of the territory. The United Nations confirms that most of Gaza's population has been displaced since the conflict began, with many families forced to relocate multiple times. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi addressed Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during their Moscow meeting by expressing hope to discuss efforts to end the aggression on Gaza, and the massacres and starvation that it is creating. He further emphasised the destructive impact of illegal measures that continue to undermine the two-state solution and kill all prospects for peace in the region. Safadi acknowledged Russia's diplomatic stance by telling Lavrov we value your clear position against the war and your demand for reaching a permanent ceasefire. Israel maintains that its military does not target civilians and denies implementing any policy of starvation within Gaza. The Israeli government's expansion of military operations has provoked widespread international condemnation and sparked significant domestic protests. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 62,064 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable. – AFP


The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
PLKN key to shaping disciplined patriotic youth says minister
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has emphasised the critical role of the National Service Training Programme in shaping Malaysian youth. He stated that PLKN serves as a strategic intervention to develop disciplined, patriotic and resilient young citizens. The programme represents a long-term national investment beyond mere physical training according to the minister. Mohamed Khaled highlighted the importance of instilling national values and defence consciousness in today's complex world. He revealed concerning findings from the Malaysian Youth Index study conducted between 2015 and 2019. The study showed a noticeable decline in the youth identity domain which encompasses patriotism, volunteerism and unity. The minister made these comments during his winding-up speech for the Defence Ministry's 13th Malaysia Plan debate in Parliament. His statements came in response to a proposal by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah to scrap PLKN 3.0. The opposition member had suggested reallocating the programme's funding to other ministries. Since the relaunch of PLKN 3.0, significant participation numbers have been recorded according to the defence minister. Mohamed Khaled reported that 40 trainees had joined the young soldier training programme while 148 trainees had enlisted in the Territorial Army. These numbers are expected to increase further as the programme expands from next year. The nation must build a segment of society that truly understands national security and defence issues according to the minister. He stressed that this understanding should extend beyond general knowledge to comprehensive awareness. Regarding defence capabilities in Sabah, Mohamed Khaled confirmed the government's ongoing commitment to strengthening security. Plans include installing long-range air defence radars in Pulau Layang-Layang and Tawau for complete 360-degree coverage. Additionally, eight Coastal Surveillance System radars will operate to monitor territorial waters effectively. Air superiority in Sabah's airspace will be enhanced through several acquisitions according to the defence minister. The Malaysian Armed Forces will acquire the ANKA Unmanned Aerial System, LCA FA-50 aircraft and Maritime Patrol Aircraft. All these assets will be based in Sabah to strengthen regional security. The military is planning to acquire an additional four Coastal Surveillance Radars for enhanced maritime surveillance. Part of the Littoral Mission Ship and Littoral Combat Ship fleet will also be stationed in Sabah once received. Plans include replacing the Tun Sharifah Rodziah Sea Base with a mobile Forward Operating Base to reinforce security operations in Eastern Sabah. Regarding the proposed purchase of second-hand FA-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, Mohamed Khaled provided an update. Discussions have been held and the United States has expressed no objection to Kuwait selling the jets to Malaysia. Several processes still need completion including an assessment by the Royal Malaysian Air Force team next month. The RMAF team will evaluate readiness, deficiencies and upgrade requirements for the potential aircraft purchase. Mohamed Khaled noted that although the US has agreed, delivery would only occur after Kuwait receives its new additional jets from the US. If this process takes too long, the ministry will consider alternative options including making all 18 Sukhoi jets fully operational by 2030. The defence minister also mentioned the possibility of procuring new fifth-generation jets from various countries. Potential suppliers include France, the United States or Russia for these advanced aircraft. The decision and evaluation process for new jet procurement will require considerable time according to Mohamed Khaled. He indicated that a final decision might only be made by 2033 or 2034 with complete aircraft replacement expected by 2040. - Bernama


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Trump says he will arrange Putin, Zelensky meeting after speaking with both
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was brokering a meeting between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and their Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to be followed by a trilateral meeting that would include the US leader. The declaration followed back-to-back meetings at the White House, including Trump's in-person meeting with the Ukrainian president, in which he also dangled the possibility of US troops supporting Ukraine. He also met jointly with Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other top leaders from across the Atlantic. 'Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,' Trump said on social media. 'At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself.' Trump added that the larger group 'discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America'. However, disagreement over the timing of a ceasefire remains to be overcome. Merz, for example, insisted in a social media post that one needs to be in place prior to any further talks. The Kremlin confirmed that Putin and Trump held a phone call on Monday, in which the US leader discussed the day's negotiations with Zelensky and the other leaders. Putin's assistant Yuri Ushakov said in a briefing that 'Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed their support for continuing direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in this regard. In particular, they discussed the idea that it would be worthwhile to explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives.' 'It is noteworthy that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to continue to maintain close contact with each other on Ukrainian and other pressing issues on the international and bilateral agenda,' he said. Sitting with Trump earlier, Zelensky told reporters that he supported the US leader's personal involvement in ending the conflict. 'We support the idea of the United States, and on a personal level, President Trump to stop this war, to make diplomatic way of finishing this war,' he said. 'And we are ready for trilateral. As President said, this is good signal about [a] trilateral. I think this is very good.' Monday's flurry of meetings followed Trump's largely amicable summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last week, in which the US leader has drawn criticism for backing away from his threat of 'severe consequences' for Moscow if Putin refused to agree to a ceasefire. In the three days since the high-profile visit to America, where Putin received a red carpet reception, Trump had seemed to drift more towards the Russian leader's position, prompting EU leaders to show their determination to back Zelensky by travelling to Washington to meet the US leader together with the Ukrainian president. Trump's latest stance on Russia's war against Ukraine includes a preference for a comprehensive peace deal that would appear to require Kyiv to make concessions – including the forfeiture of some Ukrainian territory, which Zelensky has previously said he is not prepared to give – instead of an immediate ceasefire. Trump said Sunday that Zelensky could end the war 'almost immediately, if he wants to' but that, for Ukraine, there was 'no getting back' Crimea and 'NO GOING INTO NATO'. Seven top European leaders arrived in Washington in an effort to push Trump into offering 'ironclad' US security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of an end to the three-year war. In addition to Von der Leyen and Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb are included. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte were also with the Zelensky delegation. In Brussels, the joint effort is seen as an attempt to counterbalance Trump's move towards Putin's position and to avoid a repeat of Zelensky's infamous Oval Office defenestration in February, when he was banished from the White House after clashing with Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance. Trump appeared to endorse plans for Nato to buy weapons – Patriot Missile systems, in particular – that Ukraine needs to repel Russian forces, and hinted at the possibility of US troops being involved. Asked whether he would rule out the latter, Trump said: 'We'll let you know that maybe later today.' 'We're meeting with seven great leaders of great countries also, and we'll be talking about that,' he added. 'They'll all be involved ... when it comes to security there's going to be a lot of help. It's going to be good. They are first line of defence because they're there. They're Europe. But we're going to help them out also. We'll be involved.' In a briefing full of long diversions in which the president blamed former president Joe Biden for the war, Trump also spent much of his time assailing voting machines and mail-in election ballots. Those comments were in line with a social media post he issued shortly before the meeting with Zelensky, in which he teased an executive order ahead of next year's midterm polls targeting both long-time components of US elections. While the trilateral idea went down well with the European leaders supporting Zelensky, with Starmer and Stubb explicitly expressing approval, differences emerged over the need for a ceasefire. 'I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire, so let's work on that, and let's try to put pressure on Russia,' Merz said during opening remarks. Trump said in response: 'In the six wars that I've settled, I haven't had a ceasefire. We just got into negotiations.' Merz repeated his call just a few minutes after Trump announced that he was organising the Zelensky-Putin meeting. Es ist ein gutes Treffen mit Präsident Trump, Präsident Selenskyj und unseren europäischen Partnern heute in Washington, aber die nächsten Schritte werden komplizierter. Wir müssen Druck auf Russland ausüben. Vor weiteren Gesprächen muss es einen Waffenstillstand geben. — Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) August 18, 2025 Speaking ahead of the joint meeting in the White House on Monday, Macron sought to frame a ceasefire as something that Trump had previously pushed for. 'Your idea to ask for a truce, or at least to stop the killings ... is a necessity, and we all support this idea,' he said. The French president also pushed for a quadrilateral meeting involving EU leadership to follow any trilateral that might emerge, 'because when we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent'. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST