Malaysia And Us Relationship Essay

The relationship between Malaysia and United States can be divided into three main phases which is the early period until Malaysia’s independence in 1957, secondly is the period from Malaysia’s independence to the end of the Cold war in 1990 and the post-Cold war period of the 1990s. The first phase began with both nations in very humble positions as colonies. Malaya was under the Dutch rule while America was colonized by British until America successfully fought Britain and achieved its independence. By the time, Malaya remained a colony but this time under British, who replaced the Dutch. America views Malaya as being under the British sphere of influence which as part of the larger Southeast Asian are important for the economic theme arose.

from independence to the end of the cold war in 1990. During this phase, once Malaya achieved independence, the relationship finally become direct. Even though both nations shared a colonial past, and core values like democracy, free enterprise, and religious tolerance, one was a third-world nation while the other was a super power. When Malaysia was formed in 1963 and Indonesia launched its Confrontation policy against the new federation, the U.S. took the side of Malaysia against Indonesia. Moreover, during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1975, although Malaysia did not send troops, it supported U.S. efforts by giving military equipment from its Emergency period to South Vietnam and by training South Vietnamese personnel in jungle warfare and police administration. It was during that war that President Lyndon B. Johnson from U.S. visited Malaysia in 1966 which is the first and only time that an incumbent U.S. president has done so. With the end of the Cold War, the U.S. became the world’s only superpower while Malaysia had become a leader in ASEAN and continue to improve its economic and military capabilities. [ Pamela sodhy. (2012). Malaysia-US Relations 2000-2011 . Kuala Lumpur: Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS)