Colombia Accused in the US of Alleged Corruption in Purchase of Swedish Gripen Aircraft

The recent purchase of 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets by the Colombian government, one of the most expensive military agreements in the country’s history, has once again become a source of controversy due to its high costs and allegations of supposed corruption in the procurement process. Although the contract with the Swedish company Saab —and its U.S. subsidiary— was officially signed this month, the allegations of alleged irregularities have opened a new front of scrutiny for the Gustavo Petro administration.

The operation, valued in the billions of dollars, sought to modernize Colombia’s air capabilities after years of stagnation in defense matters. But the scale of the investment and the secrecy of the process have fueled suspicions, especially after Colombian academic Juan Carlos Portilla filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged transnational corruption linked to the contract.

These suspicions have been amplified by an additional political and personal element: the presence in Sweden of Verónica Alcocer, ex-wife of President Petro, who currently resides in that European country. Her stay, along with recent revelations about her lifestyle, has been cited by complainants as a possible sign of indirect ties to the multibillion-dollar deal. Although there are no formal accusations for now, the combination of factors has created a climate of tension that the government is trying to contain.

Colombia accused in the US of alleged corruption in purchase of Swedish Gripen aircraft

According to the complaint filed by Portilla, the purchase of the Gripens may be related to improper payments and hidden commissions to Colombian officials or intermediaries connected to the process. The fact that Saab has direct operations in the United States would allow the case to be investigated under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which gives the Department of Justice jurisdiction to look into possible bribes or irregular transfers.

The complainant asked U.S. authorities to analyze accounting books, international bank movements, confidential communications, and internal documents related to the negotiation. He also requested that judicial cooperation be activated with Sweden, the European Union, and Colombia itself, warning that the agreement could involve “undue advantages” offered or received by public officials.

In a letter released by Portilla himself, the professor and expert in transnational financial crime states that the signer filed in the U.S. “a criminal complaint to assess and initiate (…) an investigation under the Federal Law Against Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA) for alleged corrupt conduct linked to the Gripen E/F contract with Saab AB signed with the government of President Gustavo Petro and possible benefits to officials of the government of Colombia and associates, including Verónica Socorro Alcocer García, listed on OFAC SDN lists.”

In this regard, Portilla mentions in his complaint the situation of Verónica Alcocer, who currently resides in Swedish territory. Her personal life became a focus of attention after European media published reports on her expenses, travel, and social circle in Stockholm.

Although no link has been proven between her and the purchase of the aircraft, her temporal and geographical proximity to the agreement has been interpreted by the complainants as a factor that warrants scrutiny.

International pressure in Sweden and reaction in Colombia

The complaint in the United States coincided with efforts by the Anti-Corruption Institute in Colombia to trigger a parallel investigation in Sweden. The organization sent a formal communication to the Swedish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, warning of possible transnational bribery offenses based on public information and press reports from both Colombia and the Nordic countries. The Institute’s director, Camilo Enciso, stated that the size of the purchase and the circumstances of its approval warrant maximum transparency.

Sweden, whose oversight system for arms exports is one of the strictest in the world, typically conducts exhaustive reviews of any signs of irregularities in international contracts. If Swedish authorities conclude that there are sufficient indications, they could open an investigation that would implicate not only Colombian officials, but also Saab executives or intermediaries involved in the negotiation.

Domestically, the Comptroller General’s Office—the State’s top fiscal oversight body—has also demanded explanations. The agency requested that the Ministry of Defense submit, within five business days, all documents related to the acquisition process: contracts, technical annexes, market studies, legal opinions, and any information on economic or legal advisories that influenced the decision.

This request is interpreted as an attempt by national authorities to take control of the debate and prevent international investigations from advancing without a parallel review in Colombia. For defense-sector analysts, the oversight effort comes late, but it could clarify doubts about possible cost overruns, commissions, or unnecessary intermediations.

Strong criticism from President Petro amid allegations

For his part, President Petro has responded harshly to the accusations. During an official statement, he called for the contract with Saab to be made public to dismantle, in his words, “the avalanche of disinformation.” He insisted that no improper commissions exist and said that any insinuation of corruption is part of an international smear campaign.

Petro even suggested that the United States may be pressuring his government for having chosen the Swedish aircraft instead of U.S. alternatives like the F-16. He also asserted that his personal life is unrelated to the negotiation and defended that Alcocer has no connection with decisions regarding the Colombian State’s purchases.

“With great ignorance, opposition journalists claim that the Gripen aircraft purchased by my government are overpriced. They didn’t even read the contract. They forgot that these are new aircraft with offsets and maintenance included, with spare parts and technology transfer. Compare them to the F-16s they were selling us third-hand, or with the French Rafales I was tempted to buy. Accustomed to applauding the purchase of scrap, they are incapable of conducting a serious investigation,” he wrote in a long comment on his account on the social network X.

The Colombian president also explained the details of a long negotiation with Saab, stressing that it was public and transparent. “The Gripen negotiation has lasted my entire government (…) I spoke with the owner of the Swedish firm Saab and opened Colombia’s relations with the Swedish royal family. I visited their home, and the owner of Semana magazine [a local Colombian outlet opposed to Petro’s government] attended one of the meetings and dinners held in Stockholm. He should talk about them; he is an eyewitness. He sat at the table with the Swedish Crown Princess and her husband, whom I introduced him to,” Petro added.

Regarding his ex-wife’s alleged involvement in the case, the president said that “I have separated my public life from my private life since my political struggle began. I know what it is to be democratic and honest with the people. I know that intimate life is a space of responsible freedom that authorities should not invade.”

Finally, Petro used the opportunity to lash out at the U.S. government for his inclusion on the Clinton List, emphasizing that this led the Colombian president to publish his financial records to prove his innocence.

Con mucha ignorancia, periodistas de la oposición afirman que los aviones Gripen, comprados por mi gobierno, tienen sobrecostos

Ni siquiera se leyeron el contrato. Se olvidaron que son aviones nuevos con ofset y mantenimiento incluído, con repuestos y transferencia tecnológica.… https://t.co/Mm7F6EJseW

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) November 17, 2025