Introduction

The issue of foreign military sales is related to important aspects of neutral foreign policy. The neutrals themselves must make the chosen policy look relevant and credible. The neutrals must make credible that their policy is an alternative to major-power-dominated policies. The European Community has sharpened the neutral dilemma between economic necessity and political desirability. The public as well as political groups and individuals demanded and suggested changes of policy, ranging from an unconditional embaigo on all foreign military sales to a more liberal foreign military sales policy. Inflation, personnel costs and the cost of new technology have increased the financial pressure upon sustaining a military establishment in general and military production in particular. Studies of relevance to the issue of neutral foreign military sales policy can be divided into three categories: studies of why and how nations arm, studies of foreign military sales, and specific studies of the non-aligned nations.