Malaysian King to Meet Tatarstan Head in Russia

Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, will undertake the first-ever state visit by a Malaysian monarch to Russia from August 5 to 10, 2025, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. The visit aims to deepen bilateral relations in trade, education, technology, and innovation, highlighting the monarchy's expanding diplomatic role. Sultan Ibrahim's itinerary includes a state banquet hosted by Putin, tours of technology and automotive institutions in Moscow, and a visit to Kazan where he will tour a helicopter manufacturing facility and meet Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov. This historic trip follows Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent diplomatic discussions in Russia on energy, agriculture, and defense, during which Putin criticized a UN investigation into the MH17 crash. As Malaysia is set to chair ASEAN in 2025, the visit is expected to enhance strategic cooperation with Russia, an ASEAN Dialogue Partner. The program also emphasizes building people-to-people ties and expanding partnerships beyond traditional diplomacy.