US vetoes Colombia's Gripen E jet deal, straining military ties VIDEO

The US has formally vetoed the sale of Saab's Gripen E fighter jets to Colombia in a move that could reshape military dynamics in Latin America. 

The US officially blocked the sale of the General Electric F414-GE-39E engine, a critical component of Sweden’s Saab Gripen E fighter jet, to the Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana), according to Bulgarian media. 

This decisive veto, revealed on social media by defense analyst SA Defensa, underscores Washington's determination to maintain complete control over the potential transfer of advanced military technology to Colombia, halting any deal involving the Gripen E.

The announcement, shared via a post on X, highlights the US strategic intent to restrict the spread of American-made military technology, even to trusted allies like Colombia. This action comes as Colombia seeks to modernize its aging fleet of Kfir fighter-bombers in the face of growing security threats, particularly from neighbouring Venezuela, which operates advanced Su-30MK2 jets. The Gripen E, with its long-range capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and suitability to Colombia's operational needs, had emerged as a top contender for the upgrade.

Swedish defense contractor Saab has been courting Bogotá, emphasizing the Gripen E’s ability to patrol Colombia’s vast territory without refueling and its potential to stimulate local industry through partnerships. However, the US veto now threatens to derail these efforts, leaving Colombia at a difficult crossroads.

The veto aligns with broader US foreign policy goals, including maintaining dominance over the global arms trade and preventing sensitive technology from reaching regions where Washington seeks to limit its influence. Since the F414 engine, manufactured by General Electric, is central to the Gripen E's performance, Saab cannot proceed with the delivery to Colombia without US approval.

This is not the first time the US has intervened in Latin American defense deals. Reports from January indicated Washington’s hesitation to allow American components in Gripen sales to Colombia, suggesting a broader pattern of control over regional military modernization efforts.

For Colombia, the veto could strain its decades-long military relationship with the United States, which has been strengthened by initiatives like Plan Colombia, focusing on counter-narcotics and counterinsurgency operations. Bogotá is now left with a tough decision: either abandon the Gripen E, delaying the modernization of its air force, or turn to non-Western suppliers, such as China, which has offered aircraft like the J-10C.

Social media users have already speculated that Colombia might pivot to China if the US restrictions continue, with many suggesting a shift toward Beijing in light of the ongoing limitations imposed by Washington.

The US veto has sparked a heated debate about the future of US-Colombia relations and the broader implications for military defense in Latin America. Critics argue that Washington's actions could push Colombia, and other nations in the region, toward non-Western suppliers, thereby eroding US influence in this strategically significant part of the world.

Supporters of the veto defend the move, asserting that it safeguards national security by preventing American technology from being used in ways that could destabilize the region or fall into the wrong hands. As Colombia weighs its next move, the veto serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between alliance and autonomy in US-Latin American military ties.

The US decision has also raised concerns about potential ripple effects throughout Latin America, particularly for Peru, which had also been eyeing the Swedish fighter jet as part of its own air force modernization plans.

By Naila Huseynova