RSIS Webinar on “Malaysia-US Relations: Challenges and Opportunities”

Malaysia and the United States mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2022. It is a longstanding relationship based on a strong foundation of strategic and economic cooperation.  Yet, the political tenor of the relationship has had its highs and lows, and there is an apparent scepticism, at the minimum, among the Malaysian mainstream media and public towards US foreign policy.  At the same time, the US is a strong partner of Malaysia in defence relations and security matters such as counterterrorism and maritime domain awareness. The US was also Malaysia’s largest foreign investor in 2020 and its third largest trading partner. Malaysia has hosted high-profile visits from US administrations including Secretary of State Antony Blinken most recently.

What are the critical elements of the relationship that are often under-appreciated?  What is the trajectory for bilateral relations in these uncertain times for Malaysia and Asia, given heightened domestic political contestation, economic headwinds, and regional geopolitical competition?

This webinar aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities for bilateral political, defence and economic relations, and to uncover the underlying factors and players that make this a complex and elusive relationship for observers.