2025-06-102024/25:UU9 · p.1UUForeign affairs
The regulations for arms export
Sweden's regulatory framework for war-materiel exports
What's at stake: The decision affects which countries Sweden can export weapons and defence materiel to, how much weight is placed on the recipient country's democratic status and human-rights record, and whether Sweden's growing imports of defence materiel should be reviewed on security-policy grounds the same way exports are.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the current framework for war-materiel exports, including the democracy criterion, is sufficient, or whether tighter rules are needed — for example a ban on exports to dictatorships and warring states, and equivalent regulation of imports.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, noting that the current framework — the War Materiel Act, the War Materiel Ordinance, and guidelines decided by the government and approved by parliament — has been in force for seven years, is continuously reviewed, and rests on long-term cooperation with traditional partner countries that serves Sweden's security-policy interests.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (MP)
The Green Party's reservation holds that the current framework is still insufficient despite the 2018 democracy criterion, pointing out that a third of Swedish arms exports in 2022–2024 went to countries Freedom House rates as not free or partly free, including the UAE, Turkey, and Qatar. The party wants an absolute export ban to dictatorships, warring states, and countries with grave human-rights violations — without blocking support to an attacked country such as Ukraine — plus equivalent security-policy regulation of arms imports, instead of today's purely practical procurement process.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna
Ja 257–15Ja 228–44
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 91/0/2/13 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 17/0/0/7 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/12 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| SKarin Sundin (S, Örebro län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
| SMagdalena Andersson (S, Stockholms län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:3038 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) demands 110, 111 and 114, 2024/25:3405 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) demands 2, 3, 17 and 19, and 2024/25:3408 by Jacob Risberg et al. (MP) demands 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3038 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 110, 111 och 114, 2024/25:3405 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkandena 2, 3, 17 och 19 samt 2024/25:3408 av Jacob Risberg m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: Each year since 1985, the government reports to the Riksdag in a memorandum on Sweden's export of arms. The memorandum highlights the Swedish export control policy concerning arms and products with dual-use purposes. The memorandum contains an account of the export of arms that occurred in 2024. Furthermore, the government describes cooperation within the EU and in other international forums regarding strategic export control of arms and products with dual-use purposes. The government also reports on Sweden's donations of arms to Ukraine and the consequences for export control of Sweden's application for NATO membership. The Riksdag filed the memorandum, i.e., closed the case. The Riksdag also rejected proposals in motions concerning export control of arms and products with dual-use purposes from the general motion period 2024 and from follow-up motions. The motions concern, for example, reviewing the current legislation and making the application of the legislation more restrictive or, in some cases, more generous. The Riksdag referred, among other things, to ongoing investigative work and applicable regulations.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to introduce an absolute export ban to dictatorships and countries with serious human rights violations and establish import control of military material. (MP) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme explicitly establishes that the party works to ban arms exports to dictatorships, states that wage wars of aggression and regimes that violate human rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly establishes that the party works to ban arms exports to dictatorships, states that wage wars of aggression and regimes that violate human rights. The counter-proposal's requirements for an absolute export ban to precisely these categories is thus the plan's own formulation. The plan's line on peace and disarmament and that Sweden should not push militarization points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att partiet arbetar för att förbjuda vapenexport till diktaturer, angreppskrigande stater och regimer som kränker mänskliga rättigheter. Motförslagets krav på ett absolut exportförbud till just dessa kategorier är därmed planens egen formulering. Planens linje om fred och nedrustning och om att Sverige inte ska driva på militariseringen pekar åt samma håll.
- ban on arms exports to dictatorshipsdecisive»förbjuda vapenexport till diktaturer, stater som för angreppskrig och« (party programme ↗)“ban arms exports to dictatorships, states that wage wars of aggression and”
- export ban for HR violations»regimer som begår brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna.« (party programme ↗)“regimes that commit violations of human rights.”
- peace and disarmament»Världen behöver gå mot fred, nedrustning« (party programme ↗)“The world needs to move toward peace, disarmament”
- voice for peace, not militarization»Vänsterpartiet anser att Sverige ska vara en röst för fred och rättvisa, inte för ökad militarisering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that Sweden should be a voice for peace and justice, not for increased militarization.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan's core commitment in the area is a robust people's defence with a strong Swedish defence industry, deepened European defence cooperation and promoted Swedish exports.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core commitment in the area is a robust people's defence with a strong Swedish defence industry, deepened European defence cooperation and promoted Swedish exports. An absolute export ban of the kind the counter-proposal demands locks in the security policy freedom of action in a way the plan does not support. The plan's requirements for respect for international law and human rights qualify but do not overturn that line.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande på området är ett robust folkförsvar med en stark svensk försvarsindustri, fördjupat europeiskt försvarssamarbete och främjad svensk export. Ett absolut exportförbud av det slag motförslaget kräver låser den säkerhetspolitiska handlingsfriheten på ett sätt planen inte ger stöd för. Planens krav på respekt för folkrätten och mänskliga rättigheter kvalificerar men upphäver inte den linjen.
- strong Swedish defence industrydecisive»Sverige behöver ett robust militärt och civilt folkförsvar, och en stark svensk försvarsindustri.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden needs a robust military and civil people's defence, and a strong Swedish defence industry.”
- promoted Swedish exports»Insatser för att främja svensk export, värna frihandeln och motverka protektionism.« (party programme ↗)“Efforts to promote Swedish exports, safeguard free trade and counter protectionism.”
- European defence cooperation»Starkare europeiskt försvarssamarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Stronger European defence cooperation.”
- international law and disarmament»Vi har en lång historia av att stå upp för folkrätten, solidaritet, nedrustning, demokrati och jämställdhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have a long history of standing up for international law, solidarity, disarmament, democracy and gender equality.”
The party programme demands literally that export of military material to dictatorships, countries in armed conflict and countries with serious human rights violations shall be abolished — precisely the absolute export ban the counter-proposal demands.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme demands literally that export of military material to dictatorships, countries in armed conflict and countries with serious human rights violations shall be abolished — precisely the absolute export ban the counter-proposal demands. The goal is moreover a completely phased-out arms export. The plan thereby speaks directly for the counter-proposal's demand for stricter regulation.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver ordagrant att export av krigsmateriel till diktaturer, länder i väpnad konflikt och länder med grova kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter ska avskaffas — exakt det absoluta exportförbud motförslaget begär. Målet är dessutom en helt avvecklad vapenexport. Planen talar därmed direkt för motförslagets krav på ett skärpt regelverk.
- export ban to dictatorshipsdecisive»Export av vapen och annan krigsmateriel till diktaturer, länder som befinner sig i väpnad konflikt eller där grova och omfattande kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter förekommer ska avskaffas.« (party programme ↗)“Export of arms and other military material to dictatorships, countries that are in armed conflict or where serious and widespread human rights violations occur shall be abolished.”
- phased-out arms export»Miljöpartiet de grönas mål är därför en avvecklad vapenexport.« (party programme ↗)“The Greens' goal is therefore a phased-out arms export.”
- consistent peace policy»Sveriges insatser för fred är inte heller trovärdiga när vi samtidigt exporterar vapen till diktaturer och länder i fattigdom.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's peace efforts are not credible when we at the same time export arms to dictatorships and poor countries.”
- no arms to authoritarian states»inte att Sverige ska anpassa sin utrikespolitik efter auktoritära staters krav för kunna att bli medlem i Nato och Sverige ska inte börja sälja vapen till Turkiet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“not that Sweden shall adapt its foreign policy to authoritarian states' demands in order to become a Nato member and Sweden shall not start selling arms to Turkey.”
The documents say nothing about military equipment exports, but the party programme states that free trade must take ethical perspectives into account and that foreign policy ultimately aims to safeguard universal human freedoms and rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The documents say nothing about military equipment exports, but the party programme states that free trade must take ethical perspectives into account and that foreign policy ultimately aims to safeguard universal human freedoms and rights. The election manifesto also wants to impose stricter requirements on working conditions and rights in trade agreements and describes the struggle against authoritarian forces as decisive. Based on these principles, a democracy and rights condition for exports is closest to the plan, with the exception for support to an attacked country.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten säger inget om krigsmaterielexport, men partiprogrammet slår fast att frihandeln måste ta hänsyn till etiska perspektiv och att utrikespolitiken ytterst syftar till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter. Valmanifestet vill dessutom ställa hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor och rättigheter i handelsavtal och beskriver kampen mot auktoritära krafter som avgörande. Utifrån dessa principer ligger ett demokrati- och rättighetsvillkor för export närmast planen, med undantaget för stöd till ett angripet land.
- ethical considerations in tradedecisive»Hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Consideration must be taken to ethical and environmental perspectives.”
- human rights govern foreign policy»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to safeguard universal human freedoms and rights.”
- conditional trade»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Impose stricter requirements on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- resistance to authoritarian regimes»Runtom i världen pågår en kamp mellan anhängare av den liberala demokratin och auktoritära krafter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Around the world there is a struggle between proponents of liberal democracy and authoritarian forces.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships and wants criteria on business relations with undemocratic regimes to apply also in state-owned enterprises.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships and wants criteria on business relations with undemocratic regimes to apply also in state-owned enterprises. Foreign policy shall be explicitly values-driven with freedom and rights as foundation. The counter-proposal's demands for an absolute export ban to dictatorships and serious human rights violators thus lie in line with the plan, and the exception for support to an attacked nation does not clash with the plan's commitment on military support to Ukraine.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger rakt ut att Sverige inte ska exportera vapen till diktaturer och vill att kriterier om affärsrelationer med odemokratiska regimer ska gälla även i statligt ägda företag. Utrikespolitiken ska vara uttalat värderingsstyrd med fri- och rättigheter som grund. Motförslagets krav på ett absolut exportförbud till diktaturer och grova rättighetskränkare ligger därmed i linje med planen, och undantaget för stöd till ett angripet land krockar inte med planens åtagande om militärt stöd till Ukraina.
- no weapon export to dictatorshipsdecisive»Sverige ska inte exportera vapen till diktaturer.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships.”
- values-driven foreign policy»Vi kallar det för vad det är: en ny värderingsstyrd utrikespolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We call it what it is: a new values-driven foreign policy.”
- requirements on state enterprises' business»staten ska det finnas kriterier gällande affärsrelationer med odemokratiska regimer.« (party programme ↗)“the state shall have criteria regarding business relations with undemocratic regimes.”
- military support to Ukraine»En ny regering ska vara garanten för att Ukraina ges ökat ekonomiskt, politiskt och militärt stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A new government shall be the guarantor that Ukraine is given increased economic, political and military support.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme speaks directly on this very question: export should not go to aggressively warring countries or to states with systematic violations of human rights, and arms exports should be limited to democratic states under careful control.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme speaks directly on this very question: export should not go to aggressively warring countries or to states with systematic violations of human rights, and arms exports should be limited to democratic states under careful control. This is materially what the counter-proposal requires with its absolute export ban to dictatorships and serious rights violators. The plan says nothing about corresponding regulation of imports, which is the part of the requirement not covered.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet uttalar sig direkt om just denna fråga: export ska inte gå till offensivt krigförande länder eller till stater med systematiska kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter, och vapenexporten ska begränsas till demokratiska stater under noggrann kontroll. Det är i sak vad motförslaget kräver med sitt absoluta exportförbud till diktaturer och grova rättighetskränkare. Planen säger inget om motsvarande reglering av import, vilket är den del av kravet som inte täcks.
- export ban to warring statesdecisive»Export ska ej gå till offensivt krigförande länder« (party programme ↗)“Export shall not go to aggressively warring countries”
- export ban for human rights violations»eller till stater där det förekommer systematiska kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“or to states where systematic violations of human rights occur.”
- export only to democracies»till demokratiska stater och omgärdas av noggrann« (party programme ↗)“to democratic states and surrounded by careful”
- domestic defence industry needed»en inhemsk försvarsindustri« (party programme ↗)“a domestic defence industry”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The counter-proposal requires an absolute export ban to dictatorships, warring states, and countries with severe human rights violations, as well as security policy regulation of imports.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires an absolute export ban to dictatorships, warring states, and countries with severe human rights violations, as well as security policy regulation of imports. The plan's core commitment is that Swedish defence industry should serve all of NATO and that Sweden should wholeheartedly support Ukraine with continued weapons deliveries, which presupposes exports that are governed by security policy assessment in each individual case rather than by absolute ban categories. The plan also states that foreign policy should protect Swedish interests.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver ett absolut exportförbud till diktaturer, krigförande stater och länder med grova MR-kränkningar samt en säkerhetspolitisk reglering av import. Planens bärande åtagande är att svensk försvarsindustri ska komma hela Nato till del och att Sverige helhjärtat ska stödja Ukraina med fortsatta vapenleveranser, vilket förutsätter en export som styrs av säkerhetspolitisk bedömning i varje enskilt fall snarare än av absoluta förbudskategorier. Planen anger också att utrikespolitiken ska värna svenska intressen.
- defence industry for NATO's benefitdecisive»Verka för att Sveriges teknologiska kunnande och kompetenta försvarsindustri kommer hela Nato till del« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to ensure that Sweden's technological expertise and competent defence industry serves all of NATO”
- continued weapons deliveries to Ukraine»Sverige ska helhjärtat stå upp för Ukraina, även med fortsatta vapenleveranser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should wholeheartedly stand up for Ukraine, also with continued weapons deliveries.”
- Swedish interests guideweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy should protect Swedish interests.”
- cooperation with like-minded»Sverige ska fortsätta att tillsammans med likasinnade nationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should continue together with like-minded nations”
flags: citat_svagt
The plan's commitment is to strengthen Swedish defense industry and to value Swedish interests and Swedish trade in international contexts.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's commitment is to strengthen Swedish defense industry and to value Swedish interests and Swedish trade in international contexts. An absolute export ban against broad country categories would bind up that review in advance and damage the defense industry's market. The plan certainly wants to mark against human rights violations, but deviations from the free trade principle shall according to the party programme be limited exceptions, not the main rule.
Original (Swedish)
Planens åtagande är att stärka svensk försvarsindustri och att värna svenska intressen och svensk handel i internationella sammanhang. Ett absolut exportförbud mot breda landkategorier skulle binda upp den prövningen i förväg och skada försvarsindustrins marknad. Planen vill visserligen markera mot kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter, men avsteg från frihandelsprincipen ska enligt partiprogrammet vara begränsade undantag, inte huvudregel.
- strengthened Swedish defense industrydecisive»Svensk försvarsindustri ska också stärkas genom att fortsatt satsa på inhemsk försvarsteknologi och att tydligare värdera det strategiska intresset av svenska leverantörer vid inköp av försvarsmateriel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish defense industry shall also be strengthened by continuing to invest in domestic defense technology and by more clearly valuing the strategic interest of Swedish suppliers in defense materiel purchases.”
- Swedish interests first»Värna svenska intressen i internationella sammanhang« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Value Swedish interests in international contexts”
- limited deviations from free trade»Sverigedemokraterna är i grunden positiva till frihandel, men menar samtidigt att begränsade möjligheter att göra avsteg från denna princip måste finnas.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats are fundamentally positive to free trade, but believe at the same time that limited opportunities to deviate from this principle must exist.”
- strengthened trade position»Förbättra Sveriges ställning på den internationella marknaden och i handel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve Sweden's position on the international market and in trade”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UU9)
- Committee report full text (HC01UU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1464 — En tillväxtorienterad politik för industrilandet Sverige av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3038 — Stärkt beredskap och ett robustare samhälle av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3088 — Militära relationer med Taiwan av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3405 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:114 Strategisk exportkontroll 2024 - krigsmateriel och produkter med dubbla användningsområden av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3406 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:114 Strategisk exportkontroll 2024 - krigsmateriel och produkter med dubbla användningsområden av Rasmus Giertz m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3408 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:114 Strategisk exportkontroll 2024 - krigsmateriel och produkter med dubbla användningsområden av Jacob Risberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:955 — Vapenexport till Saudiarabien av Martin Ådahl (C)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:114 — Strategisk exportkontroll 2024 - krigsmateriel och produkter med dubbla användningsområden
Source: The Swedish Parliament