The Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) organized a regional seminar titled “Legal Aspects of Border Security in a Maritime Environment” from 17 – 20 August 2009 at the Renaissance Hotel in Malacca. The seminar involved thirty-nine mid to senior-level participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, and The Philippines who are involved in securing national borders and other transnational security challenges in a maritime environment.

The seminar was co-hosted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and facilitated by subject matter experts from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS). The seminar’s focus was to enhance understanding and bridge national gaps and geographical seams in order to assist countries in dealing with legal issues involved in maritime border security.