KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has blasted Norway’s move to revoke the export licence for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system and its launcher platforms, describing the decision as “unilateral and unacceptable.”
“I conveyed Malaysia’s vehement objection in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre,” Anwar said, stressing that Malaysia has honoured every obligation under the contract since 2018 “scrupulously, faithfully and without equivocation.”
“Norway, it appears, has not felt compelled to extend us the same courtesy and demonstration of good faith,” he added.
Anwar warned that the decision will have “grave consequences” for Malaysia’s defence operational readiness and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) modernisation programme, with broader ramifications for the regional balance.
“Signed contracts are solemn instruments. They are not confetti to be scattered in so capricious a manner,” he declared.
“If European defence suppliers reserve the right to renege with impunity, their value as strategic partners flies out the window.”
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is a fifth-generation precision-guided strike system designed for naval vessels and coastal defence. Malaysia signed a contract in 2018 to acquire the system as part of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme, aimed at modernising the country’s maritime defence capabilities.
Norway’s government recently revoked the export licence, citing national security concerns. The move has sparked diplomatic tension, with Malaysia warning of potential disruption to its naval readiness and broader implications for the regional security balance in Southeast Asia’s contested waters.
Analysts note that the decision raises questions about the reliability of European defence suppliers, particularly if contractual obligations can be revoked unilaterally. For Malaysia, the issue underscores the risks of dependence on foreign defence partners at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Asia-Pacific. - May 14, 2026
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