Marhalim Abas, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, covers Southeast Asian defense. He has worked as a journalist specializing in Southeast Asia defense and security since 1994, initially with the New Straits Times newspaper.
Malaysia will stage two simultaneous separate exercises with the U.S. military, apparently for the first time. The two exercises are Cope Taufan 2016 and Keris Strike 2016.