KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — The United States (US) has approved approximately US$230 million which is nearly RM1 billion in security assistance for Malaysia since 2018 among others in military-related training and exchange programmes.
Commanding General US Army Pacific (USARPAC) General Charles A. Flynn said the assistance also includes the provision of equipment as well as education.
“The US is proud to partner the Malaysian Armed Forces in key developmental areas and looks forward to this year’s Malaysia – US talk which promises further development of the bilateral relationship,” he said.
Flynn said this in his speech before officiating the US Partnership Pavilion at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition and National Security Conference Asia (Natsec) 2022 earlier today.
Also present was the US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D. Mcfeeters.
Flynn said the partnership between the US and Malaysia was founded on the principles of security and prosperity as well as relying on multilateral relationships and burden sharing throughout South East Asia.
“The Malaysian Army demonstrates its principles in its commitment in joining bilateral exercises such as the Keris Strike and Bersama Warriors even in the face of the challenges by Covid-19,” he said.
Apart from that, he said later this year, two Malaysian soldiers will be trained in the Lightning Academy jungle operation in Hawaii as part of the exchange training programmes.
Meanwhile, commenting on the DSA and Natsec 2022, Mcfeeters expressed his gratitude to the Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for organising the event.
“Malaysia is very important to the United States, as the third-largest economy in the Asean region and the second-largest US trading partner in South East Asia,” he said.
A total of 12 US companies will be displaying their products at the US pavilion in the event starting from today until this Thursday.
US Partnership Pavilion is among 20 pavilions represented by 20 different countries participating in the international defence event.
— Bernama
