PM Modi's Malaysia Visit: Diplomatic Catch-Up or Strategic Reset?

• PM Modi's February 2026 visit to Malaysia, his third to the country, marked his first overseas trip of the year after a seven-year gap, signaling trustworthiness and respect for Malaysia's regional role.
• The visit highlighted continuity in India-Malaysia engagement, with both nations seeking deeper bilateral ties under India's evolving "ASEAN Plus" approach, recognizing ASEAN's often aspirational unity.
• Economically, the agenda shifted beyond raw materials to higher-value sectors like vehicles, railways, semiconductors, and digital payments, aiming to link with Malaysia's semiconductor supply chain and enhance infrastructure.
• Despite a large basket of MoUs, bilateral trade and FDI remain modest, revealing a gap between potential and performance; the unresolved ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review also exposed limits.
• Malaysia's strategic caution, hedging between India and China, and reluctance to join certain Indian initiatives reflect its independent profile, yet the visit fostered functional cooperation and personal rapport.