He said the matter was raised with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth during a bilateral meeting in Singapore where both are attending the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Khaled said it is well known that a US company manufactures the same missile system as Norway. “We have asked whether the US is willing to allow the sale of the missiles,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

The Kongberg naval strike missile has also been ordered by the US navy and a land-based version by the US Marine Corps. The Raytheon corporation, in partnership with Kongsberg, produces launchers for the missile “and is using its extensive supply base to build the missile and other components in the US as well”.

Malaysia ordered the Kongsberg system in a 2018 contract to equip six littoral combat ships but the Norwegian government has since revoked the export permit, saying exports of its defence technology would be limited to its “allies and closest partners”.

The Malaysian government is now seeking more than RM1 billion in compensation from Kongsberg for direct and indirect losses, as the government had already paid 95% of the RM634 million procurement value.

Khaled said he also met Australian deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles to discuss strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries.

He said Malaysia and Canada were also ready to strengthen defence ties through more formal cooperation.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is an annual conference of defence ministers, military chiefs and diplomats from dozens of countries to discuss regional and global security as well as defence issues.