Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met today with Malaysian Minister of Defence Mohamad bin Sabu on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ 17th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.
This was the first meeting between the two, and after Secretary Mattis congratulated him on his recent appointment they reaffirmed building upon a foundation of strong U.S.-Malaysian defense ties by providing an opportunity for both to share perspectives on security challenges facing Southeast Asia.
The two leaders discussed cooperation in counterterrorism and maritime security, and opportunities for joint training. Secretary Mattis reiterated his commitment to working with Malaysia on common security challenges. Today’s meeting set the stage for future engagements between the two leaders.