Malaysia presses Norway over missile licence

Malaysia has stepped up its response after Norway revoked the export licence for Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) that had been intended for the Royal Malaysian Navy. Malaysian officials described the move as creating a capability gap and signalled they are seeking alternative solutions through diplomatic channels.

The cancellation of the export licence by the Norwegian government has become a focal point of Malaysia’s engagements with defence partners, coinciding with regional discussions at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin raised the NSM export-licence cancellation directly with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30, 2026. The issue formed part of broader talks on Malaysia’s defence requirements.

According to Malaysian officials, the United States indicated it would consider selling missiles to Malaysia as a potential solution to the shortfall created by Norway’s decision. No specific systems, quantities, or timelines were disclosed in the reported comments.

Malaysian statements from the dialogue framed engagement with the United States as part of a wider effort to ensure that the Royal Malaysian Navy’s operational needs are met despite the cancelled Norwegian export licence.

Mohamed Khaled Nordin is scheduled to meet his Norwegian counterpart, Tore O. Sandvik, to raise the NSM export-licence cancellation directly. The planned meeting was reported on May 30, 2026, alongside his other bilateral engagements at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Malaysia intends to use the meeting to press its concerns about the revoked licence and to seek clarification on the decision. The outcome of those talks had not been reported at the time of the latest statements.

The focus on a minister-level dialogue with Norway underscores Malaysia’s continued interest in resolving the dispute or, at minimum, obtaining a clear explanation for the export restriction affecting the Royal Malaysian Navy.

On the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Mohamed Khaled told reporters he met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to discuss expanding defence cooperation. The talks included potential enhancements to information and intelligence sharing.

Malaysian statements from the event also highlighted interest in deepening defence ties with additional partners to help address capability gaps arising from the NSM export-licence cancellation. Specific partner countries beyond the United States and Australia were not identified in the available reporting.

The emphasis on broader cooperation suggests Malaysia is looking to diversify its defence relationships and procurement options while it continues to pursue discussions with Norway over the cancelled licence.

The revocation of the NSM export licence has immediate implications for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s planned missile inventory and has prompted Kuala Lumpur to re-engage key security partners. Discussions with the United States, Norway and Australia reflect a multi-track approach to managing the impact.

While no replacement deal or revised arrangement has been announced, Malaysia’s recent diplomatic activity indicates an effort to balance the search for alternative missile suppliers with attempts to address the original dispute with Norway through high-level talks.