Response to interpellation 2025/26:266 on the situation in Sudan and Sweden's arms exports
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 M argues that Sweden contributes significant humanitarian aid to Sudan and that the government and the EU have urged external actors to refrain from exacerbating the conflict 1. 1 2 M asserts that Swedish war materiel has not been used in Sudan and that the export to the United Arab Emirates primarily consists of the Global Eye radar system, which does not carry weaponry 1 2. 3 M emphasizes that trade is necessary for Sweden and that dialogue with trading partners provides opportunities to raise difficult issues 3. 3 M believes that regional actors must work together for a ceasefire and peace 3. 4 V demands that all Swedish arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia be stopped immediately 4. 5 V argues that economic interests carry more weight than human rights 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Håkan Svenneling has asked me questions regarding Swedish arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Svenneling has asked on what basis I have taken the position that exports to companies based in the United Arab Emirates should not include companies that trade in war materiel. He has also asked whether I intend to take further initiatives on the issue within the EU. He has also asked whether I intend to work for a ban on Swedish arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and if not, what the reasons for this are.
The civil war in Sudan has created the world's current largest humanitarian crisis with an almost indescribable suffering. Approximately 30 million people are currently in need of humanitarian aid. The developments in Sudan also have a negative effect on the entire region with increased instability and refugee flows as a consequence. Sweden contributes significant humanitarian support to Sudan to reduce the suffering of the civilian population.
The Government and the EU have on several occasions urged all external actors, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to refrain from directly or indirectly exacerbating the situation in Sudan, and instead act constructively and in a coordinated manner to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict. Sweden was a driving force within the EU to sanction companies based in the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in the war in Sudan. We continuously monitor the need for further listings.
Sweden has good relations with both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These include both trade exchange and political dialogue, even in issues where we have different views. Both I and Minister for Trade and Development Dousa have, during the past year, highlighted the civil war in Sudan with our Emirati counterparts and conveyed the government's positions. We view positively that the so-called Quad group, in which both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are members, jointly work to bring an end to the civil war in Sudan.
Sweden's defense industry and the export of war materiel are necessary for Sweden's ability to maintain a credible defense. The export of Swedish war materiel is tested against a strict regulatory framework established by the Riksdag and the government. The Inspectorate for Strategic Products (ISP) is the supervisory and licensing authority for the export of war materiel. The authority makes a comprehensive assessment in each individual case and makes independent decisions.
The export of war materiel to the United Arab Emirates has in recent years primarily consisted of the airborne radar system Global Eye. It is used for both airspace surveillance and maritime surveillance and carries no armament.
There is no information that Swedish war materiel exported to the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia is being used in Sudan.
Håkan Svenneling (V)
Madam Speaker! The human suffering in Sudan is inconceivable. After nearly three years of civil war between the paramilitary militia Rapid Support Forces, called RSF, and Sudan's military, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. Over 14 million people have been forced to flee and are now living under very difficult conditions. The International Criminal Court is investigating war crimes committed by all parties in the conflict, with a focus on allegations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. At the end of October 2025, the RSF militia took control of the city of al-Fashir. Witnesses tell of massacres and extensive and ruthless violence. Today, in practice, no humanitarian aid reaches the city, as it is besieged.
The conflict is fueled by the flow of weapons into the country of Sudan. One of the countries supplying Sudan and RSF with weapons is the United Arab Emirates – the largest recipient of Swedish arms exports during 2024. During 2024 alone, the export of war materiel to the United Arab Emirates amounted to over 6 billion kronor. Saudi Arabia also participates in the conflict through its influence over the Sudanese army. Saudi Arabia was also a recipient of Swedish weapons as recently as 2024.
That the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia participate in wars in other countries is no news. The Swedish government has therefore long had every reason to stop the export of Swedish war materiel to these countries. But instead, one chooses to increase cooperation and trade with these countries. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated in November – with particularly bad timing, given the military offensives in Sudan – that he wanted to increase exports to the Gulf region. The increased trade may cover more areas than weapons, but the message is clear: Sweden's economic interests weigh heavier than peace, freedom, and human rights when it comes to the Gulf region and Sudan.
In his response, the Foreign Minister firmly asserts that no Swedish weapons, in any case none that have come from the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, are being used in the conflict in Sudan. But that is a truth with a major qualification. According to Ekot's investigation, the Swedish anti-tank weapon AT4 is among the Sudanese military forces, SAF.
This is a disgrace for us as a country and shows that we cannot control our arms exports. In a comment to Aftonbladet in December, the Foreign Minister said that the authority ISP, Inspektionen för strategiska produkter – as it is so nicely called when one talks about arms exports – would investigate the matter. I naturally wonder if anything has happened since the Foreign Minister made this comment.
When it comes to which weapons Sweden exports, the Foreign Minister tries to mix up the cards by claiming that Global Eye does not carry any armament. Having good situational awareness is essential in order to be able to attack the correct military targets. Not least the war in Ukraine has shown us that. Even though RSF obviously has not received Global Eye from the United Arab Emirates, we do not know what intelligence information they have received and what weapons the United Arab Emirates could have given to RSF based on the fact that they have Global Eye from Sweden.
A spicy fact for Sweden is that we have ordered three Global Eye aircraft from Saab, while the United Arab Emirates have purchased five. Thus, we have in practice developed a military product to a greater extent for the United Arab Emirates than for ourselves.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Before every Swedish export transaction involving war materiel, it is assessed whether there are defense or security policy reasons closely linked to Swedish defense capability to grant permission to carry out the transaction. Every such export transaction undergoes a rigorous examination, which is carried out by the Inspectorate for Strategic Products, as I mentioned in my previous contribution.
All export cases are also reported to the Export Control Council, where all eight political parties in the Riksdag are represented. The permit review is also carried out in accordance with the EU's common position on establishing rules for the control of exports of military technology and war materiel, as well as the UN Arms Trade Treaty.
All recipients must provide an end-user certificate for the war materiel exported from Sweden. There is a strict prohibition against transferring materiel to third countries.
Let me once again underline that there is no information that Swedish war materiel exported to the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia has been used in Sudan. The export of defense materiel to the United Arab Emirates has in recent years primarily consisted of the airborne radar system Global Eye, which was just mentioned. As stated, it is an airborne radar surveillance system. It carries no weaponry, and it is used for airspace surveillance and maritime surveillance.
Some permits for the export of Swedish war materiel have not been granted for either AT4, i.e., anti-tank weapons, or any other war materiel. The AT4 anti-tank weapons have previously been manufactured under license in other countries, that is, beyond Swedish control.
To prevent weapons from being sold on, as stated, all recipients must provide an end-user certificate for all materiel. It may therefore not be transferred to others without permission from Sweden.
Håkan Svenneling (V)
Madam Speaker! In the autumn, when the humanitarian crisis in Sudan was on everyone's lips, the Left Party (V) submitted a motion of special importance to the Riksdag. Unfortunately, the motion was rejected by the Speaker and was not allowed to be presented.
In the motion, we had three clear demands from the Left Party's side:
All Swedish arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia must be stopped immediately.
Sweden should work within the UN for an arms embargo against all of Sudan. Today, only one region is covered.
Sweden must, within the EU and the UN, work to strengthen the tools to uphold existing arms embargos and monitor that they are followed.
It is clear that we must do more to monitor arms embargos given that we see that weapons are coming in. It is unclear where these AT4 weapons have come from, but it is Sweden that at some point in the past developed these weapons, and it is in Sweden that they can be purchased today. Therefore, we must have better control over this weapon than we have right now.
I myself sit on the Export Control Council, which assists the Inspectorate for Strategic Products, and also the Speaker's wife sits there. Naturally, we Members of Parliament who sit there must also follow up on the issue from the political level, but I wonder, however, if the Foreign Minister has done anything to get feedback from ISP after his comment in December.
Is an investigation ongoing at ISP? In what phase is it in? What do we know? Have any new facts emerged? I understand that the Foreign Minister has quite a lot on her plate right now, but I still wonder if she has in any way followed up on this issue with the authority.
When Turkey, in violation of international law, invaded northern Syria in 2019, this was condemned by a unanimous Swedish Riksdag, and the Inspectorate of Strategic Products, ISP, decided that all arms exports to the country should be stopped. Vänsterpartiet argues that it is time to act again. We can stop arms exports to the countries involved in the conflict in Sudan – if we want to.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasizes that Sweden has ensured that companies in the United Arab Emirates have been listed by the EU. But I wonder why this does not also include the country's arms companies. If the United Arab Emirates sends weapons to Sudan, they will likely come from the companies in the country that trade in war materiel.
Does the Minister for Foreign Affairs intend to take any initiatives in the EU on this issue? Is the government prepared to somehow reduce Swedish arms exports?
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Let me first return to the appalling situation prevailing in Sudan. What we are witnessing is a famine and refugee crisis of completely unimaginable proportions.
In recent months, we have received reports of great concern from al-Fashir regarding serious and extensive abuses and violence against civilians following the RSF's takeover of the city. Lawlessness seems to prevail, and the question of accountability has rightly become a focus of the international community.
Sweden and the EU have been very clear towards the warring parties that they are obligated under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.
The EU has also sanctioned several companies based in the United Arab Emirates due to their role in the war in Sudan. This involves, among other things, companies that have facilitated the financing of various armed groups in the conflict. It concerns companies that have funneled money and vehicles to RSF to enable continued warfare and companies that handle and export gold from Sudan or are active in the mining industry in the country.
All states have a responsibility to act in accordance with international law and to ensure that the UN arms embargo is complied with. The EU is working to have the embargo expanded to cover all of Sudan.
As the world's third largest bilateral donor of humanitarian aid to Sudan, Sweden makes a difference for the severely strained civilian population. Our contribution goes, among other things, to life-saving food aid, health care, water, sanitation, and protection of people on the move.
The authority ISP is independent, which is well known. ISP makes independent decisions, however, following a very rigorous regulatory framework which, of course, is also constantly evaluated. As I said in my first contribution, both I and Minister Dousa have been in contact with our counterparts in the United Arab Emirates and conveyed our concern. Exactly what more has been said in these conversations, I cannot go into.
Håkan Svenneling (V)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the presentation!
It is welcome that Sweden's large humanitarian support to Sudan is being provided and that the companies that have been listed have been listed. The Foreign Minister points to precisely the financing of war, which I believe is central when it comes to the question of Sudan, especially linked to the mining industry and gold reserves. The reason why the civil war has flared up in the first place with the regional actors behind it all is economic interests. It is the struggle over these that is holding Sudan back.
It is important to state that what is now happening in Sudan is a catastrophe and a failure for the entire world. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard cannot rely on handshakes and dialogue with dictatorships such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It is not particularly likely that they will begin to follow rules or keep their promises.
Sweden must be a country that stands up for peace, democracy and human rights. Swedish arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia must therefore be stopped immediately. The Swedish voice for peace and freedom needs to be restored. If we stop the arms exports, it would be a clear statement for this.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to thank you for an important debate.
I also want to point out the fact that trade is absolutely necessary for a small and export-dependent country like Sweden. We must not overlook that aspect. It also gives us better opportunities to speak directly with the countries we trade with, including the United Arab Emirates.
In such a dialogue, we can also raise difficult questions where we do not agree, which both I and other Swedish government representatives have done several times. We have emphasized that the United Arab Emirates must refrain from directly or indirectly exacerbating the Sudanese conflict and act constructively to reach a peaceful solution.
It is also required that regional actors, both individual states and organizations, work together for a ceasefire and for peace to be achieved – all to put a stop to the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.