Abstract

Over the past six decades, since gaining independence in 1957 from Britain and establishing formal ties with the United States, Malaysia has sought to maintain and strengthen bilateral ties with the world’s leading superpower. Its primary objectives have been to build a successful multiracial nation and secure a peaceful Southeast Asian neighbourhood. With the two nations sharing fundamentally common strategic interests, the bilateral relationship has proven remarkably resilient, particularly in the area of trade and security cooperation. Just as American economic and national strategic interests drive American foreign policy toward Malaysia, Malaysia’s national interests have led it to look to the US as a major source of trade, foreign investment and technology to promote economic growth, and as a key regional stabiliser in the face of security challenges.