Democracy Criteria for Arms Exports Must Be Tightened After Thailand’s Use of Jas Gripen Against Targets in Cambodia
Swedish Jas Gripen aircraft were used in active combat for the first time in the fighter jet’s history when Thailand recently struck targets along the Cambodian border in a conflict that has reportedly claimed more than 30 lives so far. Undemocratic regimes on both sides of the border are driving the conflict for domestic political reasons in a wave of nationalism that strengthens the dictatorships’ grip on both countries. It is in this extremely volatile situation that Jas fighter jets are being used in combat for the first time and where the Thai military is trying to expedite the purchase of additional aircraft.
The risk of escalation is great, as is the possibility that Swedish Jas aircraft will contribute to a scenario that cements dictatorship.
Despite the introduction of democracy criteria as a “central condition” for the Inspectorate of Strategic Products’ (ISP) approval of arms sales since 2018, sales to dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and military-controlled non-democracies like Thailand have increased sharply and reached record levels last year.
Between 2019 and 2023, Sweden exported military products worth two billion kronor to Thailand. Exports to Thailand and other non-democratic regimes, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, represented more than one-third of total Swedish arms exports last year, according to an analysis by the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society.
Thailand reportedly intends to add another 12 fighter jets from Swedish Saab to the 10 the country has operated previously, and has allocated 5.7 billion kronor for the first four aircraft, just two years after the US refused to sell the country F35 fighter jets.
Saab: Human Right to Feel Safe
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard says that any future sales will be evaluated by the ISP “based on the situation prevailing at the time” and that a “comprehensive assessment based on the regulations is made in each individual case.”
However, the supposedly stricter democracy criteria introduced by the ISP, in the wake of the Arab Spring democracy protests, to prevent exports to non-democratic regimes have largely been watered down by defense and security considerations.
“It is a fundamental human need and a human right to feel security,” writes Saab on its website, adding that “Saab is part of Sweden’s total defense and works for everyone’s security.”
Subsidizing domestic defense through arms exports has been the cornerstone of Sweden’s defense for decades. But what happens to the security of innocent civilians living under brutal, authoritarian regimes that get a free pass from ISP’s democracy tests at a time when Sweden is increasing defense spending? And why do democracy criteria not apply to follow-up deliveries that can continue for decades – even when a fragile democracy has degenerated into full-fledged dictatorship?
Thorough Review
It is not enough to review sales to dictatorships on a case-by-case basis, as the minister has promised after the Jas aircraft’s combat debut on the Thai Cambodian border.
Sweden needs a thorough review of the criteria applied to arms exports.
Thailand has swung back and forth between military dictatorships and weak governments for decades and is generally recognized as non-democratic.
Providing this military-dominated regime with more fighter aircraft will do little to promote peace and stability in the region. All ongoing deals with Saab or other Swedish arms manufacturers should be paused until the ISP’s democracy criteria can be thoroughly reviewed and strengthened.
Jacob Risberg, Swedish Green Party Foreign Policy Spokesperson
Emma Nohrén, Swedish Green Party Member of Parliament
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