Putrajaya to engage Oslo over reported ban on delivery of missiles

 Defence minister Khaled Nordin says the government will obtain an explanation from Norway and discuss how to proceed with the procurement contract.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said his ministry will ensure the nation’s strategic requirements are not jeopardised while maintaining relations between Malaysia and Norway. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Putrajaya will engage the Norwegian government to discuss how to proceed with its naval strike missile contract, following reports that Oslo has banned the delivery of the missiles to Malaysia.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said while the ministry has a contract with Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS to obtain missiles for the navy’s littoral combat ships, it takes note of the Norwegian government’s change in its stance.

“The Malaysian government will use its diplomatic channels with the Norwegian government to obtain an explanation and discuss appropriate measures.

“At the same time, the defence ministry will ensure the nation’s defence readiness and strategic requirements are not jeopardised, while maintaining our long-standing and positive bilateral relations with Norway,” he said in a statement today.

Khaled’s statement came in response to a Malaysian Defence article earlier today which reported that Norway had banned the delivery of Kongsberg’s naval strike missiles to Malaysia, “effectively cancelling the supply and delivery contract for them, signed back in 2018”.

The report said the ban means that the order for two more naval strike missile launchers announced at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition last year had also been cancelled.

Malaysian Defence quoted industry sources as saying the decision was conveyed to Khaled during a meeting with Norwegian officials on April 20, on the first day of the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia exhibition. - FMT