KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has praised Malaysia’s Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for his leadership and commitment to regional security, sharing his remarks in an Instagram post today.
“Happy to celebrate the KL Accords with Malaysia’s Minister of Defence, Khaled bin Nordin.
“He is a clear-eyed leader who is willing to work with us to pursue peace through strength and understands the challenges we all face in the South China Sea.
“I look forward to welcoming him to the Pentagon next year,” Hegseth wrote.
Hegseth arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday to attend the 12th Asean-Plus Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-Plus), which runs from October 30 to November 2 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
This marks his first official visit to Malaysia since his appointment as US secretary of war in January.
During the visit, he held bilateral discussions with Khaled outside the ADMM-Plus sessions, reinforcing ties between the US and Malaysia amid rising regional tensions.
The KL Accords, which were signed as part of the meeting, are seen as a commitment to fostering stronger defence cooperation and security coordination in South-east Asia.
All 11 Asean member states, including newly full member Timor-Leste, confirmed their attendance at the ADMM, along with eight Plus Dialogue partner countries: the US, Russia, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.
