"Malaysia-Latin America Relations: Engagement between Distant Partners"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Opinion
Geopolitical Monitor
17 July, 2026
The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and partnerships & alliances are being formed between countries that are geographically far apart from each other. Generally speaking, Latin America sees the United States, China, and Europe as its main extra-regional trading partners and strategic allies. However, other countries should be monitored, including Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, whose presence and engagement with Latin America have increased in recent years. However, there is one other actor that should be considered when discussing a globalized, interconnected world: Malaysia.
For analysts, scholars, and practitioners of foreign
policy, Malaysia is no stranger to Latin America. One key link between
the Asian nation and Latin America is the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free-trade pact that
brings together 12 economies across the Asia-Pacific, Western
Hemisphere, and the United Kingdom. The other regional bloc to keep in
mind is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which includes
Malaysia as well as Chile, Mexico, and Peru. Moreover, while not as
notorious as Beijing’s, Tokyo’s, or Seoul’s presence, Kuala Lumpur
maintains friendly bilateral relations with several Latin American
nations.
