KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): The US was not involved in the decision by Norway to halt the delivery of its high-tech missile system to Malaysia, said a spokesperson from the American Embassy.

The statement comes following news reports pointing to the presence of a sensitive US-made component in the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for Norway’s move to halt the delivery to Malaysia.

In fact, the US supported Malaysia’s acquisition of a naval strike capability to respond to regional threats and to protect its sovereignty, David H Gamble Jr, chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Malaysia, told The Edge on Thursday.

For example, the US facilitated the integration of necessary guidance components for the NSMs to Kongsberg in 2024 to ensure delivery of the system to Malaysia, he said.

“The United States remains committed to our robust defence and security relationship with Malaysia and further advancing it,” Gamble said, highlighting the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation between the two nations, 14 regular bilateral and multilateral exercises, professional development, and maritime security assistance.

The NSM is a ship-mounted weapon system currently fielded by countries such as Australia and the UK. The system is also available as a shore-launched system, deployed by Poland and Romania. The US also fields the system.

Norway invoked ‘force majeure’ to cancel the contract, USNI News reported, citing Malaysia’s Defence Ministry secretary general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali. A force majeure declaration excuses a firm from fulfilling contractual obligations due to factors beyond its control.

Malaysia has issued a notice of demand to the manufacturer for the cancellation seeking compensation totalling about RM1 billion, Bernama reported citing Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

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