India and Malaysia Strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During PM Modi's Visit on 7 February 2026

Key facts

• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi departed for a two-day visit to Malaysia on 7 February 2026 at the invitation of Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.
• This visit is the first since bilateral relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024 and marks the third visit by PM Modi to the country.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) identified defence collaboration opportunities including the sale of Dornier aircraft and the maintenance of Scorpene submarines and SU-30 aircraft.
• Malaysia is home to a 2.9 million-strong Indian diaspora, the third-largest globally, and a 2.75 million-strong Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) community.
• Malaysia serves as a key pillar in India’s Act East Policy and is a significant partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Indo-Pacific region.
• PM Modi previously met PM Ibrahim at the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Summit in Rio De Janeiro and attended the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit virtually in October 2025.
• India and the United States (US) announced an interim trade agreement framework to support the Make in India initiative and the goal of building a Viksit Bharat.
• The trade framework is designed to benefit farmers, entrepreneurs, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), StartUp innovators, and fishermen while generating employment for women and youngsters.