 |
Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle.
Photo: Wikipedia |
Newly published data shows that one fifth of Sweden's arms export goes to Saudi Arabia.
Now the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) criticises the government for an increased export of weapons to dictatorships.
Anna Ek, chairperson of SPAC writes in a comment:
"When Saudi Arabia, when of the most brutal dictatorships in the world, is allowed to buy Swedish weapons for SEK 2.9 billion (316 million euro) it is difficult to see what functions the rules really have".
Anna Ek refers to the regulations that restrict Swedish export of weapons.
Last year, weapons or related material was exported for a total of SEK 13.9 billion (1.5 billion euro) according to the the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (ISP)
Minister of Trade: this is ultimately about Sweden's security
Minister of Trade, Ewa Björling from the Moderate Party (liberal-conservative) does not want to comment on the appropriateness in the selling of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
"Sometimes the decision is to allow export and sometimes not", she says according to public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).
"This final judgement is taken with many factors into consideration and it is ultimately about Sweden's security", Björling continues and refers to ISP for further questions.
The ISP, or the "Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls", is an independent authority. Together with the parliamentary council for exports control, it considers different factors when it decided whether an export should be allowed or not. Human rights is one of these factors.