Singapore: The United States has assured Malaysia that it will consider selling the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) as a potential solution to the issues currently facing the country regarding its acquisition of the weapon system from Norway. This was confirmed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin following discussions with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled highlighted that the Norwegian government had previously revoked the export license for the NSM anti-ship missile and its launcher system, citing security concerns. This has prompted Malaysia to seek alternative sources for the missile system, and the US's consideration to step in is seen as a potential solution. The NSM procurement agreement was originally signed between the Royal Malaysian Navy and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace US (KDA) in April 2018, valued at 124 million euros (RM571.9 million), intended to equip six new Littoral Combat Ships.
Additionally, Mohamed Khaled mentioned that the US has proposed sharing information related to Malaysia's Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). This gesture indicates a willingness to deepen defense collaboration between the two nations. In parallel discussions, Mohamed Khaled also met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles to explore ways to strengthen strategic cooperation, including establishing a Joint Planning Committee, expanding information sharing, and preparing for upcoming high-level defense meetings.
Further, Mohamed Khaled expressed a desire to formalize defense cooperation with Canada, noting that existing ties lack a formal agreement. The ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue IISS 2026, organized by The International Institute of Strategic Studies at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, serves as a platform where defense ministers, military chiefs, and diplomats from numerous countries convene to discuss pressing regional and global security and defense issues.