This article sets out the diplomatic relationship between India and Malaysia: how relations began, the stages by which the partnership has been upgraded, the visits by prime ministers since 2010, and the institutional mechanisms through which the two governments meet. Agreements and sectoral cooperation are described in the other articles of this guide. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.
Establishment of relations
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India established diplomatic relations with the Federation of Malaya, the predecessor state of Malaysia, in 1957.
Stages of the partnership
The brief records three stages in the formal framework of the relationship:
- 2010: an India Malaysia Strategic Partnership was established.
- November 2015: the Strategic Partnership was elevated to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during the visit of PM Narendra Modi to Malaysia.
- August 2024: bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during the visit of PM Anwar Ibrahim to India.
Prime Minister Modi's visit of February 2026
At the invitation of PM Anwar Ibrahim, PM Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Malaysia on 7-8 February 2026. The brief states that the visit reinforced the bilateral CSP and yielded broad outcomes covering:
- digital payments
- security cooperation
- semiconductors
- health
- disaster management
- anti-corruption
- audio-visual co-production
- technical and vocational education
- UN peacekeeping
- social security for Indian workers
India's announcements of February 2026 on Thiruvalluvar Scholarships and on the Thiruvalluvar Chair at Universiti Malaya are covered in this guide's article on culture, education and the Indian community.
High-level visits since 2010
The brief lists the following visits at the level of head of government:
- PM Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Malaysia from 26-28 October 2010.
- PM Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Malaysia on 23 November 2015, following his participation in the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit.
- PM Najib Razak visited India in March-April 2017 to mark the 60th anniversary of India-Malaysia diplomatic relations.
- PM Najib Razak visited India again on 25-26 January 2018 to participate in the 25th anniversary celebration of India-ASEAN diplomatic relations.
- PM Shri Narendra Modi made a brief stopover in Malaysia on 31 May 2018 to congratulate the then newly elected Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad.
- PM Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim undertook a State visit to India from 19-21 August 2024, along with 5 Cabinet Ministers.
- PM Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Malaysia on 7-8 February 2026.
- PM Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a bilateral meeting with PM Shri Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12 September 2026.
Dialogue mechanisms
The brief states that the two sides have established a Foreign Ministers-level Joint Commission Meeting and Secretary-level Foreign Office Consultations, as well as an NSA-level Security Dialogue.
There are also established bilateral mechanisms in the following areas:
- Defence Cooperation (MIDCOM)
- Digital (MIDC)
- Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes
- Science and Technology
- Labour
- Public Administration
- Traditional Medicine
Meetings of the defence and traditional medicine mechanisms, and the work of the digital council, are described in this guide's article on development partnership and cooperation.
Parliamentary links
The Indian Parliament has constituted a Friendship Group for Malaysia since 2011. On the Malaysian side, the brief records a Parliamentary Friendship Group on South Asia.
Regional context
Two of the visits listed above were linked to India's relations with ASEAN: PM Modi's visit of November 2015 followed the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit, and PM Najib Razak's visit of January 2018 was for the anniversary celebration of India-ASEAN diplomatic relations. Malaysia's role in the review of the ASEAN-India trade in goods agreement is covered in this guide's trade and investment article.