ABSTRACT
In the 1980s and 1990s, Malaysia expanded its diplomacy – as well as political, economic, sociocultural and defence engagement – to many parts of the globe, putting itself on the world map. It established connections with Africa, Central Asia and Latin America and reinforced relations with China, Japan, the Middle East and Europe. While relations with other countries generated much interest among the public and in scholarly circles, Europe attracted less. It is not that relations between Malaysia and Europe degenerated or became unimportant. On the contrary, statistics showed that activities involving the two entities flourished, albeit quietly. This lack of excitement about Malaysia–Europe relations both stems from and reflects both internal and external developments affecting Malaysia and Europe.
