KUALA LUMPUR: United States President Donald Trump expressed his gratitude for Malaysia’s efforts in the search and rescue mission for American sailors of the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain, following a collision in the Straits of Melaka on Monday.
Trump voiced his thanks during a meeting with a delegation of Malaysian officials, led by National Security Council director general Zulkifeli Muhammad Zin and Malaysian ambassador to the US, Tan Sri Dr Zulhasnan Rafique, at the White House in Washington DC.
The United States embassy in Malaysia released a statement on the meeting which reads: “Trump expressed the United States’ gratitude on Malaysia’s efforts to recover the fallen US sailors of the USS John S McCain.”
The embassy also shared a photo of Trump in the Oval Office, flanked by Zulkifeli and Zulhasnan.
The statement went on to say that Trump is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the White House in September.
Najib is scheduled to meet Trump on Sept 12 in Washington DC, at the invitation of the US President.
The collision in the Straits of Melaka between the USS John S. McCain and a merchant vessel east of Singapore necessitated the formation of an international search and rescue (SAR) operation.
Malaysia led the SAR by deploying Royal Malaysian navy vessels, boats and a diving team; as well as two helicopters from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Royal Malaysian Army.