Editing Foreign relations of Malaysia (section)

==Foreign policy since 1969==

Under Prime Minister [[Abdul Razak Hussein]], Malaysia shifted its policy towards non-alignment and neutrality. Malaysia's foreign policy is officially based on the principle of neutrality and maintaining peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their ideology or political system, and to further develop relations with other countries in the region.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/foreign_policy | title = Malaysia's Foreign Policy | access-date = 21 September 2010 | work = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)]] | archive-date = 4 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180704114645/http://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/foreign_policy | url-status = live }}</ref> In 1971, ASEAN issued its neutralist and anti-nuclear ''Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality'' (ZOPFAN) Declaration. In the same year, Malaysia joined the [[Non-Aligned Movement]]. Consistent with this policy Malaysia established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1974.

This policy shift was continued and strengthened by Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]], who pursued a regionalist and pro-South policy with at times strident [[Anti-Western sentiment|anti-Western]] rhetoric. He long sought to establish an East Asian Economic Group as an alternative to [[APEC]], excluding Australia, New Zealand and the Americas, and during his premiership Malaysia signed up to an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN+3, a regional forum with China, Japan and South Korea

A strong tenet of Malaysia's policy is national sovereignty and the right of a country to control its domestic affairs.<ref name="dfat">{{cite web |url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/malaysia/malaysia_brief.html |title=Malaysia country brief |publisher=dfat.gov.au |date=October 2010 |access-date=19 February 2011 |archive-date=27 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027035312/http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/malaysia/malaysia_brief.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Malaysia views regional co-operation as the cornerstone of its foreign policy. It attaches a high priority to the security and stability of Southeast Asia, and has tried to strengthen relations with other Islamic states.<ref name="govtnz">{{cite web |url=http://www.asean.fta.govt.nz/malaysia-foreign-relations |title=Malaysia Foreign Relations &#124; ASEAN – Australia – New Zealand Free Trade Agreement |publisher=Asean.fta.govt.nz |date=4 December 2008 |access-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526030946/http://www.asean.fta.govt.nz/malaysia-foreign-relations/ |archive-date=26 May 2010 }}</ref> Malaysia was a leading advocate of expanding ASEAN's membership to include Laos, Vietnam, and Burma, arguing that "[[constructive engagement]]" with these countries, especially Burma, will help bring political and economic changes. Malaysia is also a member of [[Group of 15|G-15]] and [[Group of 77|G-77]] economic groupings.

Despite Mahathir's frequently anti-Western rhetoric he worked closely with Western countries, and led a crackdown against Islamic fundamentalists after the [[11 September attacks]]. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is [[Malay titles#Dato' Seri|Dato' Seri]] [[Hishamuddin Hussein]], who assumed office on 10 March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/03/09/foreign-ministry-portfolio-a-big-responsibility-says-hishammuddin/1844888|title=Foreign ministry portfolio a big responsibility, says Hishammuddin &#124; Malay Mail|date=9 March 2020|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=26 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326173740/https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2020/03/09/foreign-ministry-portfolio-a-big-responsibility-says-hishammuddin/1844888|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Kamaruddin Jaafar]] was deputy minister.

Malaysia has never recognised [[Israel]] and has no diplomatic ties with it,<ref name="myis">{{cite web |url=http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=3&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=624&PID=0&IID=1639&TTL=Malaysia:_Anti-Semitism_without_Jews |title=Malaysia: Anti-Semitism without Jews |publisher=Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs |access-date=5 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802000649/http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=3&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=624&PID=0&IID=1639&TTL=Malaysia:_Anti-Semitism_without_Jews |archive-date=2 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with the country ever condemning the Israelis action during [[Gaza flotilla raid|their raid over a Gaza humanitarian mission]] and request the [[International Criminal Court]] to take any action against them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/7/nation/20100607121340&sec=nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608200729/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F6%2F7%2Fnation%2F20100607121340&sec=nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |title=Malaysia wants Israel referred to International Criminal Court (Updated) |author=Peng, Lee Yuk |work=The Star |date=7 June 2010 |access-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref> Malaysia has stated it will only establish an official relations with Israel once a [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process|peace agreement]] with the [[State of Palestine]] been reached and called for both parties to find a quick resolution.<ref name="myis"/><ref name="nst">{{cite news|url=http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MalaysiacanbeMuslim_thoughtleader_--Clinton/Article/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622053918/http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MalaysiacanbeMuslim_thoughtleader_--Clinton/Article/ |archive-date=22 June 2011 |title=Malaysia can be Muslim 'thought leader'&nbsp;– Clinton |work=New Straits Times |access-date=15 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/10/19/Anifah-restraint-Palestine-Israel/|title=Malaysia calls on Palestine and Israel to demonstrate restraint|work=Bernama|publisher=The Star|date=19 October 2015|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-date=14 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014021327/https://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/10/19/Anifah-restraint-Palestine-Israel/|url-status=live}}</ref> Malaysian peacekeeping forces have contributed to many UN peacekeeping missions, such as in [[United Nations Transition Assistance Group|Namibia]], [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia|Cambodia]], [[United Nations Protection Force|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II|Somalia]], [[United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor|East Timor]] and [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|Lebanon]].<ref name="state.gov">{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm |title=Malaysia |publisher=State.gov |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604190416/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.un.int/malaysia/GA/67/2013-02-12%20Protection%20of%20Civilians.pdf |title=Malaysia – Permanent Missions to the United Nations |publisher=United Nations |date=12 February 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018034708/http://www.un.int/malaysia/GA/67/2013-02-12%20Protection%20of%20Civilians.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2013 }}</ref> On July 29, 2024, Malaysia officially applied to join the BRICS economic bloc and geopolitical organization.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/malaysia-applies-for-brics-membership-premier-anwar-ibrahim/3287650 | title = Malaysia applies for BRICS membership: Premier Anwar Ibrahim | access-date = 29 July 2024 | work = aa.com.tr }}</ref>