Sweden will cancel its arms deal with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has confirmed. The decision comes after the ultraconservative kingdom blocked the Swedish foreign minister’s speech on human rights at an Arab League meeting.
"It is true that it will be ended. The Minister of Defense will talk more about this later tonight," Lofven told reporters during an official visit to Kiev.
The controversial trade agreement, which included the export of military arms to Saudi Arabia – Sweden’s fourth biggest export market for arms outside the EU – was up for renewal this year.
Earlier on Tuesday, Arab foreign ministers defended Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and criticized Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom’s comments in which she accused the kingdom of blocking her speech at the Arab League meeting in Cairo. Wallstrom had been invited to the meeting as a guest of honor, as a nod to her country's recognition of Palestine last autumn.
“The ministers have voiced their condemnation and astonishment at the issuance of such statements that are incompatible with the fact that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia,” the ministers said in a statement, according to Swedish media.
“Sharia has guaranteed human rights and preserved people’s lives, possessions, honor and dignity. The ministers consider the comments as irresponsible and unacceptable,” the statement added.
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