Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia's Defence Minister, criticises Norway's unilateral cancellation of the Naval Strike Missile system, warning that it undermines trust in international agreements and highlights double standards in global politics.
KUALA LUMPUR: Norway's cancellation of the Naval Strike Missile system intended for Malaysia has created more than just a bilateral contract dispute, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said the cancellation raised a deeply troubling question about whether international agreements and strategic partnerships can still be trusted at all.
"If even a nation regarded as a proponent of the rules-based order, well known for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize, could abandon commitments without consequence, then I am afraid international relations are no longer governed by principles," he said. "They are governed by their own personal will and whims, which is an extremely dangerous trajectory for the international system.
" He said this in his speech titled"Managing Regional Tensions amid Global Competition" during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday . Mohamed Khaled noted that institutions established to uphold stability, multilateralism, and international law, such as the United Nations, are becoming increasingly weakened in the face of geopolitical rivalry.
"International law is often treated as something that exists only on paper – observed strictly by countries of the Global Majority, but selectively interpreted by stronger powers whenever convenient," he said, lamenting that developing nations face condemnation for violations while powerful countries receive a muted response. He added that the silence surrounding Norway’s unilateral decision was particularly revealing, sending a dangerous message that some countries are simply above scrutiny.
"The same double standards are visible globally, where ongoing genocide, war crimes, and violations of international law often receive selective reactions depending on who is involved. "This blatant hypocrisy is profoundly destructive to the legitimacy and credibility of the rules-based international order," he stressed. He warned that nations cannot meaningfully discuss managing tensions when the foundations of peace – trust, reliability, and mutual respect – are steadily eroding.
"For decades, nations were told to believe in international law, contractual obligations, and the sanctity of agreements. "Nowadays, treaties and humanitarian principles are disregarded and selectively interpreted whenever they do not align with geopolitical interests. Five men remanded over Port Klang fightKaamatan closes with CM, Huguan Siao calling for unity, preservation of Sabah’s heritage
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