Civil nuclear cooperation MOU with Malaysia is 'example of how it can be done', Rubio says

KUALA LUMPUR: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a bilateral MOU (memorandum of understanding) on civil nuclear cooperation with his Malaysian counterpart on Thursday (July 10).

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The US and Malaysia signed a memorandum to explore civil nuclear cooperation.
They began negotiations for a formal "123 Agreement" allowing peaceful nuclear collaboration.
The move comes as nuclear tensions persist globally, especially between the US and Iran.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Rubio said the MOU is "an example of how it can be done" as a time when other countries "have expressed an interest in civil nuclear programs."

In addition, the two countries have launched negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, according to a press release by the U.S. Department of State.

The so-called "123 Agreements" establish a legally binding framework for significant peaceful nuclear cooperation between the United States and its partners, the press release added.

The U.S.-Malaysia nuclear cooperation MOU was signed at a time when tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran on nuclear issues, following last month’s US strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.