President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says that the United States is meddling in another country’s affairs when it requests information on the fighter jet deals of Brazil and Swedish Saab, reports news agency Reuters.
The US Department of Justice has requested information from Saab about Gripen fighter jet purchases made in 2014. On Thursday, Saab reported on the U.S. request and said it intends to comply. The company did not provide any further information on the matter.
President Lula said in a radio interview that the US request “makes no sense”.
In 2016, Brazilian prosecutors accused Lula of using his influence to help Saab win a bid for 36 fighter jets worth $5.4 billion. Lula’s lawyers called the case “political persecution”.