Malaysia–US Bilateral Relations in the Aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis
Malaysia–United States relations are enormously significant. From the perspective of the US Department of State, Malaysia is a significant player at both the regional and international levels. The world financial crisis that began in the US at the end of 2007 moderately affected the Malaysian economy. While the US was at the center of the crisis, Malaysia felt its effects as one of Asia's export-reliant economies. Regarding the implications of the crisis, some tangible evidence has been evaluated. The fourth quarter of 2008 was devastating for the world's advanced economies, including the US, and Malaysia's external trade-related sectors were severely struck. The primary reason for this visible effect was a disruption in the trade demand. Against this background, this paper examines the aftermath of the world financial crisis on the relations between Kuala Lumpur and Washington, particularly on the political and economic bilateral ties.