Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, is visiting Malaysia and the Philippines this week in a bid to bolster defence cooperation and reaffirm Australia’s strategic engagement in Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, Marles will co-chair the 5th Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation alongside Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin. The visit highlights the enduring military relationship between the two nations, particularly through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), a key regional security framework.
“Malaysia is one of Australia’s closest partners,” Marles said, emphasising the countries’ “longstanding defence partnership, built upon a comprehensive program of exchanges, training and exercises.”
In the Philippines, Marles will attend the 2nd Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., focusing on expanding cooperation, improving capacity building, and strengthening interoperability.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also visit Australian troops participating in Exercise Alon 25, Australia’s largest overseas joint military exercise this year, reflecting growing bilateral military ties and shared regional security interests.
Marles stated, “Our cooperation through Exercise Alon reflects a shared commitment to working together to maintain a peaceful, secure and prosperous region where sovereignty is respected.”
The visit underscores Australia’s strategic push to reinforce partnerships across Southeast Asia amid a shifting Indo-Pacific security landscape.
