India’s Modi Visits Malaysia Amid Deepening Ties: 11 Agreements Signed on Defense, Semiconductors, and More

Putrajaya. Malaysia – February 8, 2026 — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a two-day official visit to Malaysia on Sunday, where he held wide-ranging talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and oversaw the exchange of 11 bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership elevated in August 2024.
The visit — Modi’s first to Malaysia since the upgrade in ties and his third overall since 2014 — focused on deepening collaboration across trade, defense, semiconductors, digital economy, security, healthcare, clean energy, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Following delegation-level discussions at Seri Perdana (the Prime Minister’s official residence), both leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of multiple pacts, including:
Framework for semiconductor cooperation (Exchange of Notes)
Defense and national security collaboration
Disaster management
United Nations peacekeeping cooperation
Combating and preventing corruption
Audio-visual co-production
Healthcare and medicine
Technical and vocational education/training (TVET)
Social security arrangements for workers
Digital payments and related initiatives
Both sides also pledged to explore interlinking of digital payment systems, trade settlement in local currencies, and greater investment in high-value sectors such as renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, fintech, startups, green technologies, and food security.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described the talks as “very vital, very strategic and critical,” emphasizing speedy implementation of agreements. He highlighted mutual benefits in semiconductors — a priority area for both nations — and welcomed India’s economic rise and its leadership in forums like BRICS (which India will chair in 2026).
Prime Minister Modi, in turn, stressed the close maritime neighborly ties and described the partnership as one of “mutual value and strategic synergy.” He congratulated Malaysia on its successful ASEAN Chairship in 2025 and reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific vision, and regional stability.
The two leaders also discussed maritime security, counter-terrorism (with India reiterating its zero-tolerance stance), and regional issues, including ASEAN–India cooperation.
The visit reflects growing momentum in India–Malaysia relations, particularly in strategic and high-technology domains, as both countries seek to diversify supply chains, enhance economic resilience, and bolster defense and security ties in an evolving geopolitical landscape.