The United States has assured Putrajaya that it will consider selling Malaysia a replacement for the naval strike missile system following the cancellation of delivery by Norwegian defence firm Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, says Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said the matter was raised during a bilateral meeting with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Khaled noted that it is widely known that a US company produces a similar missile system, adding that discussions were held on whether Washington would approve the sale to Malaysia.
“We have asked whether the US is willing to allow the sale of the missiles,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
General defence procurement issues have increasingly drawn attention in recent years as countries reassess supply chain reliability and strategic partnerships amid shifting global alliances.
The Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile system was previously ordered by Malaysia in a 2018 contract to equip six littoral combat ships, but Norway later revoked the export licence, citing restrictions to its allies and closest partners.
Malaysia has since sought more than RM1 billion in compensation from Kongsberg, after having already paid 95 per cent of the RM634 million procurement contract.
Khaled also held separate meetings with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
He added that Malaysia and Canada are also looking to deepen formal defence ties as part of broader strategic engagement efforts.
The Shangri-La Dialogue continues to serve as a key platform for defence leaders and policymakers to discuss regional security and military cooperation.
