Cambodia warns Sweden: Don’t arm our neighbour with SAAB warplanes
Credit: Sanit Fuangnakhon, Shutterstock.
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) has fired off a blistering warning to Sweden, urging Stockholm to slam the brakes on a controversial deal that could see state-of-the-art Gripen fighter jets sold to Thailand.
In a hard-hitting letter sent on August 28 to Fredrik Malmberg, Director of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, CHRC president Keo Ramy called on Sweden to rethink the multi-billion-krona deal, warning it could fuel fresh bloodshed along the already tense Cambodia–Thailand border.
According to the Khmer Times, Keo Ramy hailed Sweden’s long-standing global reputation as a champion of “democracy, peace and human rights” – before delivering a stark reality check: supplying Thailand with new Gripen E/F jets could “pose a grave risk of the aircraft being used in acts of aggression against Cambodia.”
Fighter jets or powder keg?
The row isn’t just about planes – it’s about power. Cambodian officials claim Thai military aircraft have been deployed in the past in ways that directly harmed Cambodian civilians. The fear? A shiny new fleet of Gripens could tip fragile border tensions into outright conflict.
The CHRC wants Sweden to:
- Block the sale under current circumstances
- Carry out a transparent human rights risk assessment
- Support peaceful solutions instead of military escalation
And in a move guaranteed to raise the diplomatic temperature, the committee linked the fighter jet deal to the fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers it claims are being held unlawfully in Thai custody. It called on Sweden to use its “moral influence” to help free them.
Sweden silent, for now
As of today, Stockholm has yet to publicly respond to the appeal. But the CHRC’s intervention throws a diplomatic spanner in the works of a lucrative arms deal – and places Sweden’s proud human rights image under the international spotlight.
Gripen jets: Sweden’s pride, and its dilemma
For Sweden, the Gripen isn’t just a fighter jet. It’s a flagship of national industry and technological prestige. Saab’s Gripen programme has long been marketed as a cost-effective alternative to US and European rivals, with exports forming a major pillar of Sweden’s defence economy. Thailand already operates a fleet of earlier Gripen models, bought in the late 2000s, and the proposed E/F versions would represent a significant upgrade in range, weapons capacity and combat readiness.
But arms exports are not just commercial transactions. Sweden has traditionally prided itself on a strict regulatory regime, assessing not just technical capabilities but the human rights records of recipient states. Here lies the dilemma: Stockholm’s credibility as a moral leader in global affairs could be dented if economic interests trump political principles. Critics argue that if Sweden waves this deal through, it risks joining the ranks of arms dealers willing to look the other way when sales may stoke regional instability.
The regional stakes: Why Cambodia fears escalation
To outsiders, the Cambodia-Thailand border may look like a forgotten frontier. But the flashpoints are real. Disputes over territory surrounding the Preah Vihear temple have triggered clashes between the two militaries as recently as 2011, leaving soldiers and civilians dead. Cambodia worries that the arrival of advanced fighter jets in Thai hands could tilt the balance in any future confrontation, making air power a decisive – and deadly – factor.
Arms deals are rarely about simple defence. They are about leverage. Thailand’s military-backed government stands to gain prestige and strategic dominance, while Cambodia sees itself boxed in and left vulnerable. For Sweden, the maths are whether the short-term financial gain outweighs the long-term reputational cost of being linked to a simmering regional conflict. For now, how this will end is anyone’s guess.
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