Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur. During the discussion, Secretary Rubio extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Anwar for Malaysia's successful ASEAN Chair year and expressed gratitude for hosting the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings.
In the meeting, Secretary Rubio emphasized the United States' commitment to the U.S.-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership and highlighted the intention to strengthen economic and security ties between the two nations. He reiterated a shared interest in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and explored ways to enhance defense and security cooperation through improved maritime law enforcement operations in the South China Sea.
The discussions also covered cooperation in civil nuclear energy, critical minerals, and advanced technology. Both leaders agreed on joint efforts to establish resilient critical mineral supply chains and improve the security of AI chip technologies. They underscored the importance of advancing their partnership for mutual benefit.