READOUT: Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to Malaysia, Sept. 13-14.

15 September 2026

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 13–14, 2026, to enhance military-to-military engagement, deepen bilateral defense cooperation, and reinforce a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet travels to Malaysia

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, signs the guest book alongside Royal Malaysia Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Dato Sri Tengku Muhammed Fauzi bin Tengku Ibrahim, commander, Royal Malaysia Joint Force, following a meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Koehler traveled to Malaysia to strengthen the defense partnership and advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, is greeted by Royal Canadian Armed Forces Col. Alain LaFreniere, deputy commander, Pacific Partnership 2026, during his visit to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 13, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region, works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster and deepen new and enduring friendships in the region. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, speaks to Malaysian Armed Forces 1st Adm. Mohd Adzam Bin Omar, assistant chief of staff, Joint Forces Headquarters, left, during his visit to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 13, 2026. Koehler traveled to Malaysia to strengthen the defense partnership and advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

In Kota Kinabalu, Koehler met with Lt. Gen. Dato Sri Tengku Muhammed Fauzi bin Tengku Ibrahim, Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Force Commander, and Mr. David Gamble, U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Malaysia, to discuss opportunities to expand maritime security cooperation, increase the complexity of combined training and exercises, and enhance coordination across maritime and air domains.

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Royal Malaysia Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Dato Sri Tengku Muhammed Fauzi bin Tengku Ibrahim, commander, Royal Malaysia Joint Force, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Koehler traveled to Malaysia to strengthen the defense partnership and advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, poses for a photo with U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Malaysia David Gamble prior to a meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 13, 2026. Koehler traveled to Malaysia to strengthen the defense partnership and advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler and Fauzi also participated in the closing ceremony for Pacific Partnership 2026 highlighting the accomplishments of the fourth stop of the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness mission in the region. Now in its 22nd iteration, Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster and deepen new and enduring friendships in the region.

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, center, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Lt. Gen. Dato Sri Tengku Muhammad Fauzi Tengku Ibrahim, left, MAF Joint Forces Commander, and U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Reyes, right, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26), prepare to close the PP26 Malaysia mission stop by striking a ceremonial gong during the closing ceremony at Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks about the importance of teamwork and cooperation during the Pacific Partnership 2026 Malaysia mission stop closing ceremony in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region, works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster and deepen new and enduring friendships in the region. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, center right, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, David H. Gamble, Jr., second from right, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Chargé d'Affaires a.i., and leaders of Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26), Malaysian Armed Forces, and community leaders, pose for a group photo during the PP26 Malaysia mission stop closing ceremony at Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara Sabah in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Speaks to reporters

U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, Royal Malaysia Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Dato Sri Tengku Muhammed Fauzi bin Tengku Ibrahim, commander, Royal Malaysia Joint Force, center left, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Malaysia David Gamble, center right, participate in a press conference following the Pacific Partnership 2026 Malaysia mission stop closing ceremony in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region, works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster and deepen new and enduring friendships in the region. U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

The visit to Malaysia reaffirmed the United States' long-term commitment to peace, security, and prosperity in the region.

U.S. Pacific Fleet delivers combat-ready naval forces to defend the homeland and U.S. interests, provide credible deterrence, and strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships to ensure a secure and prosperous region.