Mohamed Khaled Nordin

Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia's Defence Minister, has publicly criticized the international community's "muted" response to Norway's decision to cancel a missile deal with Kuala Lumpur. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Nordin expressed his disappointment with the "deafening silence" surrounding the revocation of export licenses for Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's Naval Strike Missile. The deal, worth approximately US$147 million, was reportedly scuttled due to US pressure, with suspicions arising that the US restricted the supply of crucial components like gyroscopes. Nordin's remarks highlight Malaysia's concern over the implications of such actions on international arms trade and the sovereignty of nations involved in such agreements. His statements underscore the geopolitical tensions and the influence of major powers in shaping defense procurement for other countries.