Global Alliances and Defence Diplomacy
The Strategic Defence Review
(SDR) 2025 highlights the United Kingdom’s position as a central pillar of NATO
while also reinforcing its commitment to key alliances such as AUKUS and the
Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), the latter of which includes Malaysia
as a founding member.
As global security dynamics
shift, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, the UK and its allies are increasingly
turning to mini-lateral and technology-focused defence pacts to counter
emerging threats.
Malaysia, while traditionally
adopting a non-aligned and hedging posture in international affairs, can no
longer afford to remain on the sidelines of these evolving security frameworks.
The growing prominence of
mini-lateral arrangements means that countries not actively engaged risk being
excluded from future regional security architectures especially those involving
the sharing of high-end defence technologies.
To stay relevant and enhance its
strategic value, Malaysia should take proactive steps to strengthen the FPDA.
This includes advocating for
deeper technological collaboration among member states through initiatives such
as joint drone exercises, AI-driven wargaming, and interoperability trials.
These steps would modernise the
FPDA’s operational focus and align it more closely with the demands of
21st-century warfare.
Additionally, Malaysia should
leverage its existing strategic partnerships with countries like the UK, Japan,
Australia, and South Korea to build capacity in critical areas such as cyber
defence, logistics resilience, and defence industry co-development.
These partnerships can serve as
platforms for technology transfer, joint training, and capability development.
Also, Malaysia should consider
initiating a Defence Tech Dialogue with AUKUS partners. While not a member of
AUKUS, Malaysia can benefit from structured engagement that ensures it remains
part of conversations around defence innovation and regional security planning.
Such a dialogue would help
prevent strategic marginalisation and support Malaysia’s efforts to remain a
relevant player in the Indo-Pacific’s increasingly complex defence ecosystem.
Defence Industrial Base and
Economic Security
The UK’s SDR draws a clear link
between national security and economic security, emphasizing the need for a
resilient and sovereign defence industrial base.
This includes not only the
capacity to export but also the ability to rapidly scale production during
times of crisis.
In contrast, Malaysia’s defence
industry remains fragmented, heavily dependent on foreign original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs), and suffers from a lack of consistent research and
development investment.
To build a more self-reliant and
future-proof defence sector, Malaysia should begin by launching a Defence
Industrial Masterplan 2030.
This strategic blueprint should
outline clear targets for developing indigenous capabilities in critical
technologies such as drones, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and
command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
(C4ISR) systems.
Establishing such goals would
provide long-term direction and attract both public and private investment into
key technology areas.
Reorganising and scaling up
existing institutions like DEFTECH and the Science and Technology Research
Institute for Defence (STRIDE) is also essential.
These organisations should be
supported through direct state funding and venture-capital-style investment
mechanisms, taking inspiration from innovation-driven models used in Denmark.
Such support would enable them to
incubate advanced technologies, commercialise innovations, and compete
globally.
Additionally, Malaysia should
implement a “Buy Malaysian First” policy for defence procurement. Prioritising
local suppliers during the early phases of technology adoption would help
cultivate a robust domestic ecosystem, encourage knowledge transfer, and reduce
dependency on foreign suppliers.
Over time, this approach would
contribute to building a more sovereign and agile Malaysian defence industry
capable of supporting both national security and economic resilience.
Strategic Communication and
National Resilience
The SDR places strong emphasis on
resilience as a broad concept encompassing not just military strength, but also
the robustness of infrastructure, the integrity of information, and the
cohesion of society.
In today’s strategic environment,
cyber warfare, disinformation, and psychological operations have become
standard tools of geopolitical competition, often targeting a nation's
vulnerabilities without the need for conventional force.
Malaysia’s capacity in cyber
defence remains limited and lacks an integrated framework that bridges the
military and civilian spheres.
To address this gap, Mindef has
announced the formation of the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Division
(DCED), which will align the Malaysian Armed Forces with international
standards and advance the goals outlined in the Defence White Paper.
This command would be responsible
for overseeing military cyber operations and would work closely with the
National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) to ensure seamless coordination between
defence and civilian cybersecurity efforts.
Such a structure would allow for
more effective responses to cyber incidents and enhance national cyber
resilience.
In parallel, Malaysia must
strengthen its information warfare capabilities. This involves training and
equipping specialised psychological operations (PsyOps) units capable of
detecting, countering, and pre-empting foreign disinformation campaigns.
These units would play a vital
role in safeguarding public perception, preserving national unity, and ensuring
that the information space is not dominated by hostile narratives.
Lastly, national resilience must
extend to the civilian population. Increasing public awareness through civil
defence drills, strategic communication campaigns, and the inclusion of
national security education in school curricula would help prepare society to face
non-traditional threats.
Building societal resilience
ensures that Malaysians are not only protected by the state but also active
participants in the nation’s defence against hybrid and information warfare.
The time to act is now. Waiting
until the next conflict or crisis emerges will be too late. Proactive
adaptation is not just a strategic choice but it is a national imperative.
23.06.2025
Kuala Lumpur.
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https://focusmalaysia.my/sdr-2025-and-malaysias-defence-response-part-2/
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