KUALA LUMPUR: The presence of two United States Navy vessels at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) in Penang was a routine port call for logistical purposes before continuing their voyage. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) and USS Tulsa (LCS 16) docked at the terminal from Saturday to Monday (March 14 to 16). "Such visits by foreign naval ships to Malaysian ports are not new and have long been part of international maritime practices and defence relations. "These port calls serve as a form of defence diplomacy aimed at fostering confidence-building while safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said in a statement on Wednesday (March 18). ALSO READ: US Navy littoral combat ships spotted at Butterworth container terminal"Malaysia has clear policies and procedures governing the presence of foreign naval ships at its commercial ports and naval bases.

Source: The Star March 19, 2026 01:05 UTC