PM Modi's Malaysia Visit: Recasting Bilateral Ties with Defence, Chips, and Culture

• PM Modi's visit to Malaysia aims to strengthen bilateral ties, focusing on defence cooperation, semiconductor collaboration, and cultural exchange.
• Defence cooperation is elevated to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," including Harimau Shakti and Samudra Laksamana exercises, amidst South China Sea tensions.
• India and Malaysia will collaborate on semiconductors, with IIT Madras and ASPTF partnering for R&D, leveraging Malaysia's manufacturing prowess and India's talent pool.
• Trade imbalance remains a challenge, with India facing a nearly $5 billion deficit; India seeks to address lax rules of origin in the ASEAN-India FTA.
• Cultural ties, particularly with the Tamil diaspora, were highlighted, with PM Modi emphasizing Tamil as "India’s link to the world"; however, concerns about figures like Zakir Naik persist.