Malaysia–Soviet Union relations (Malay:Hubungan Kesatuan Soviet–Malaysia;Jawi: هوبوڠن كساتوان سوۏيايت–مليسيا;Russian:Малайзийско-советские отношенияMalayziysko-sovetskiye otnosheniya) refers to thehistorical relationship betweenMalaysia and theSoviet Union.
Despite Malaysia's earlyanti-communist foreign policy due to theMalayan Emergency, the two nations established diplomatic relations on 3 April 1967.[1][2][3][4][5] Following the establishment of relations, Malaysia also expanded and established relations with other Soviet-influenced countries such asPoland,Romania,Hungary,Czechoslovakia, theGerman Democratic Republic andYugoslavia.[2] During the time, the Soviets were also keen to develop the relations by promotingRussian culture through the exchange of radio and television programmes, artists and in the educational field.[2] However, throughout theCold War, relations were often tense due to Malaysia's opposition to theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Soviet role in theVietnam War and Soviet intervention in theIndian Ocean which Malaysia felt could lead to the fulfillment of thedomino theory.[2]
The Soviet Union was one of the largest customers of Malayanrubber during the 1950–1960 period, and displaced theUnited States as the largest purchaser of natural rubber with 134,000 tons purchased between January and July 1963 compared to the United States with only 96,000 tons.[6] However, all the purchases were made through the London market as to avoid friction withIndonesia, who was also a producer of rubber in the region.[7] In 1967, Malaysia also signed a trade agreement with the Soviet Union which was considered as the country's first agreement with acommunist country, and as a prelude to full diplomatic relations.[8]
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