Malaysia weighs legal action after Norway blocks missile exports

The missiles are central to Malaysia’s troubled littoral combat ship programme as Putrajaya says it will seek an explanation from Oslo

Malaysia said on Wednesday it was weighing legal action after Norway blocked the export of missiles ordered for its navy, in a last-minute decision that has dealt a fresh blow to one of the country’s most troubled defence projects.

The row centres on the Naval Strike Missile, ordered from Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace for Malaysia’s long-delayed littoral combat ship programme.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had raised the matter with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere on Tuesday, after Oslo’s decision stopped the Norwegian company from completing delivery of the missiles as agreed.

“The Malaysian government is deeply disappointed by the Norwegian government’s action in not approving the export permit for the procurement of a missile series at the last minute,” Fahmi told a weekly press conference after a cabinet meeting.

He said the contract was signed in 2018 and carried out “without any issue”, with payments made according to schedule.

“The Malaysian government cannot accept at all the reasons given by the Norwegian government,” Fahmi said, adding that Putrajaya was pursuing the matter through diplomatic channels and considering “appropriate follow-up action from a legal standpoint”.

“Planning and implementing the national defence plan is a strategic interest that cannot be compromised under any circumstances,” he said.