"Alongside a global reputation for peacemaking and generous foreign aid, Sweden has become a major world supplier of weapons counting a number of regimes criticized for human rights abuses among its customers."

"Saab and other Sweden-based firms including BAE Systems and Bofors have been hugely successful in the 2000s, last year alone selling weapons and defence material to 55 countries to the tune of $1.8 billion (1.3 billion euros)."

"Some 30,000 people are employed in the Swedish defence industry, many of them in towns where arms factories are the largest private sector employer."