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Joseph Sipalan

The United States has denied any role in Norway’s decision to cancel a missile sale to Malaysia, saying it had supported the acquisition, after the dispute raised questions over Washington’s influence on weapons deals involving American-made components.
The dispute centres on Naval Strike Missiles (NSMs) built by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for a fleet of new Malaysian combat ships, with Kuala Lumpur saying it had already paid 95 per cent of the contract, valued at €126 million (US$146.4 million).
Washington’s denial came days after a report claimed the sale may have been blocked because the Norwegian-made missiles contained American-made parts, placing them under US export restrictions.
The US government said it was “not involved in the decision” by Norway and supported Malaysia’s acquisition of the missiles as a means to respond to regional threats and protect its sovereignty.


“For example, the United States facilitated the integration of necessary guidance components for NSM to Kongsberg in 2024 to ensure delivery of the system to Malaysia,” David H Gamble, chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Malaysia, said in a statement to This Week in Asia.
“The United States remains committed to our robust defence and security relationship with Malaysia,” he added.
Independent US defence publication USNI News reported on May 14 that the decision may have been linked to a US-made gyroscope component in the NSM, which is needed to keep the weapon on course.
The inclusion of US-made components meant the weapon fell under US restrictions that limit sales of some defence assets to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) and its 35 partner countries, USNI News reported. Malaysia is not a member of Nato nor is it a partner country.
Norway on Friday stood by its decision to cancel the sale to Malaysia, saying the government was tightening oversight of its defence technology in response to major shifts in European and global security.
It did not make reference to any specific conflict. Norway shares a border with Russia that stretches nearly 200km and is widely seen as a potential frontline should the Ukraine war spill over into the rest of Europe.
“Exports of some of the most sensitive Norwegian-developed defence technologies will be limited to our allies and closest partners,” the Associated Press quoted Norway’s foreign ministry as saying. “It is regrettable that this affects Malaysia.”
The cancellation of the missile sale adds to an already troubled naval modernisation project in Malaysia, which is scrambling to complete the long-delayed construction of five littoral combat ships (LCS) to replace deteriorating vessels that have been in service for at least 30 years.
Analysts have said this could push delivery of the ships further back from the scheduled handover period of 2027 to 2029, as internal systems would need to be reworked and crew retrained to handle new weaponry.

Malaysia’s Defence Minister Khaled Nordin on Tuesday said the country had lost trust in Norway and would no longer purchase any defence products from the Scandinavian nation.
“We have informed the ministry that any future purchases, whether ammunition or other defence assets, should no longer be sourced from Norway,” Khaled was quoted as saying by English daily New Straits Times.
“What has happened to us is not merely a defence procurement issue. It reflects a larger problem: the erosion of trust in international relations.”


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US denies role in Norway’s cancelled missile sale to Malaysia

Visitors gather next to a display of an NSM Naval Strike Missile made by Norwegian company Kongsberg, at the Euronaval show, in Le Bourget, France in 2014. Photo: AP

Malaysia’s Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 31, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia weighs legal action after Norway blocks missile exports

The Naval Strike Missiles produced by Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace are meant for the Malaysian navy’s littoral combat ships and two guided missile frigates. Photo: Kongsberg

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace’s booth at the 2024 Defence Services Asia event held in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: YouTube

A protest in Kuala Lumpur in 2022 demanding that the Malaysian government form a royal commission of inquiry on the controversial multi-billion-dollar littoral combat ship project. Photo: dpa

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Malaysian police officers use a drone to remind citizens to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Southeast Asian nations are using drones beyond surveillance for defence deployment. Photo: Reuters

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Washington said it supported the deal after the row raised questions over US influence on weapons with American-made parts


Washington said it supported the deal after the row raised questions over US influence on weapons with American-made parts.


US denies role in Norway’s cancelled missile sale to Malaysia

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Washington said it supported the deal after the row raised questions over US influence on weapons with American-made parts

Washington said it supported the deal after the row raised questions over US influence on weapons with American-made parts