M’sia, France in final phase of new defence agreement

2026-03-02 - 16:24

Defence minister Khaled Nordin and French ambassador Marc Abensour at their meeting today. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and France are in the final phase of drawing up a new agreement that will expand the scope of their bilateral defence cooperation, says defence minister Khaled Nordin. Khaled said the matter was discussed during a courtesy call by the new French ambassador to Malaysia, Marc Abensour, today. “The meeting also opened avenues to enhance strategic cooperation, particularly in the development of the local defence industry. “(The agreement) aims to explore Malaysia’s potential as part of the global supply chain network for defence components and technologies, in line with the French defence industry’s expertise,” he said in a Facebook post. Khaled noted that the defence cooperation between the two nations began with an agreement signed in 1993. “As a nation with observer status in the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, France also actively participates in various expert working groups with Asean member states,” he said. Abensour began his official duties in Kuala Lumpur in January. Also present at the meeting was the new French defence attache to Malaysia, Stefan Stefanic.