COMMENT | At the opening of the National Security Month in Putrajaya on July 9, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that “In a borderless world, if we do not have close cooperation with all countries, we will face problems.”

The prime minister’s government is already putting that principle into practice. Earlier that day, Anwar met with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to discuss trade and security, while other engagements this year have taken him to talks with India’s Narendra Modi, Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman, Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi.

This diplomatic outreach comes at a pivotal moment for Malaysia. As security challenges across the Indo-Pacific intensify, Malaysia’s ability to work closely with trusted partners will be increasingly important.

Its historic partner...