Malaysia Urges Norway to Speed Refund on Cancelled Missile Deal

Malaysia has urged Norway to expedite repayment for a cancelled missile procurement contract. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Norway's refusal to grant an export licence caused the deal to collapse. The minister stated he recently met his Norwegian counterpart and conveyed Malaysia's position that Oslo bears responsibility.

He told a press conference in Johor on Tuesday that Norway cannot absolve itself because its licensing decision created the problem.

Background of the procurement The contract involved the Naval Strike Missile system intended for Malaysia's littoral combat ships. Norway declined to approve the required export licence, leading both sides to scrap the purchase. Khaled said Malaysia is now examining missile options from Italy, France and South Korea.

He added that Norway should consider advancing the refund before seeking reimbursement from the supplier. The minister said Norway's cooperation on the repayment would demonstrate sincerity in preserving bilateral relations.