The Swedish Embassy in Bangkok has categorically denied reports suggesting that Sweden has suspended or frozen its planned sale of Gripen fighter jets to Thailand, following the Royal Thai Air Force’s recent military operations near the Cambodian border.
In a carefully worded statement posted on its official Facebook page, the embassy addressed widespread rumours regarding an alleged halt in defence exports.
“There are many rumours spreading at the moment regarding the purchase of Gripen fighter jets by the Royal Thai Air Force. There has been no decision taken to suspend further Gripen sales to Thailand,” the embassy said. […]
“The airstrikes were launched only against legitimate military targets that posed imminent threats to Thailand’s national security,” said RTAF spokesperson Air Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee.
He added, “Operations were carried out in accordance with international law and proportional rules of engagement,” while citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter as the legal basis for Thailand’s military response.
International media outlets, particularly Breaking Defense, reported earlier that Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard had refrained from endorsing Thailand’s latest request for an additional tranche of Gripen fighters, following what is believed to be the first-ever combat use of the Swedish platform.
In her statement, Stenergard said only that “The government is closely monitoring developments in the border conflict,” stopping short of either confirming or denying future export approvals . Läs artikel