Sweden To Shutter Arms Export Agency

The planned closure of the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM) is expected to trigger a major overhaul of the country’s arms export rules and infrastructure.

Operating as a division of the Defense Ministry, FXM’s primary defense industry export promotion role came under the spotlight during government formation negotiations between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Green Party, following parliamentary elections held on Sept. 14.

FXM’s fate was sealed when the Greens questioned the need for a state arms export promotion agency and pushed for tougher rules governing international defense sales and a reform of arms export rules in 2015-16.

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