Mexican Cartels Overwhelm Police With Ammunition Made for the U.S. Military
#armstrade
EU deal on Ukraine loan could boost UK if it agrees to help pay costs https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/04/eu-deal-on-ukraine-loan-could-boost-uk-if-it-agrees-to-help-pay-costs #EuropeanUnion #Ukraine #ArmsTrade #UkNews #Europe #WorldNews
6 #PalestineAction activists have been cleared of aggravated burglary at an Elbit site in Filton, near Bristol. Great news, not least because again, a jury refused to convict opponents of genocide and illegal occupation.
But shame on all the news reports calling #Elbit a "defence firm": #BBC, #TheGuardian, #TheNational, and probably others.
Elbit is NOT a "defence firm". It is an arms manufacturer for a genocidal regime.
Stop #defenceWashing the #armstrade and the destruction of #Palestine.
“Undercover police spied on anti-arms trade campaigners & exaggerated their threat to protect the arms industry”
by The Canary
“Evidence quoted in an opening position statement [..] on 2 Feb by the #UndercoverPolicing #Inquiry shows that multiple undercover police officers spied on anti-arms trade campaigners, incl Campaign Against #ArmsTrade (#CAAT), because of the financial importance of the industry to the British state”
Yemen: UN report
September 2019
UN Human Rights Council publishes a report yesterday (3 September 2019) on human rights infringements by Britain France and USA
The UN’s panel of eminent experts on Yemen has today published a damning report on the activities of the UK government and others into the atrocities being committed in Yemen. They conclude that international human rights law has been infringed. The most damning conclusion is:
The Experts found reasonable grounds to believe that the conduct of hostilities by the parties to the conflict, including by airstrikes and shelling, continued to have an extreme impact on civilians and many of these attacks may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The Experts further found reasonable grounds to believe that, in addition to violations related to the conduct of hostilities, the parties to the armed conflict in Yemen are responsible for arbitrary deprivation of the right to life, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, torture, ill-treatment, child recruitment, violations of fundamental freedoms, and violations of economic, social and cultural rights. These amount to violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as applicable. Subject to determination by an independent and competent court, many of these violations may result in individuals being held responsible for war crimes.
The Campaign Against the Arms Trade has waged a long legal battle with the UK government which was successful in June persuading the Court of Appeal that the Secretary of State’s actions were ‘irrational and therefore unlawful.’
Further background on the UN report can be found in a Guardian article 3 September.
Another extract from the report details activities we have previously highlighted:
The report notes that coalition air strikes have caused most direct civilian casualties. The airstrikes have hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention facilities, civilian boats and even medical facilities. Based on the incidents they examined, the Group of Experts have reasonable grounds to believe that individuals in the Government of Yemen and the coalition may have conducted attacks in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution that may amount to war crimes.
“There is little evidence of any attempt by parties to the conflict to minimize civilian casualties. I call on them to prioritise human dignity in this forgotten conflict,” said Kamel Jendoubi, chairperson of the Group of International and Regional Eminent Experts on Yemen.
The UN report can be accessed here.
If you live in the Salisbury, South Wilts/North Dorset area we would and would like to join us, you would be very welcome. The best thing is to keep an eye on this site or our Facebook and Twitter pages and come to an event.
#armsSales #ArmsTrade #CAAT #UK #UnHumanRightsCouncil #UN #Yemen
‘Keep on dreaming’: could Europe really defend itself without the US? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/31/european-defence-disarray-future-nato-trump #Europe #Nato #TrumpAdministration #EuropeanUnion #UsForeignPolicy #AerospaceIndustry #NuclearWeapons #Russia #ArmsTrade #MarkRutte #DonaldTrump #WeaponsTechnology
Cambridge university accused of ‘obfuscation’ over arms investment https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jan/31/cambridge-university-accused-obfuscation-arms-investment #UniversityOfCambridge #ArmsTrade #UkNews
Latest arms trade news
Latest CAAT newsletter reveals UK role in killing around the world
January 2026
The Winter 2025 edition of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) news discusses the many issues to do with the supply of arms by the UK and others internationally. The government frequently claims to employ ‘robust’ measures to control the trade which has much potential to cause misery around the world, but the facts seem to suggest otherwise: CAAT reveals the top two purchasers of weapons are two nations which have abysmal human rights records. In the period 2020 – 2025, the top country for our weapons was Saudi Arabia at £6.4bn and second was Qatar at £4.1bn. Further down the list, is UAE at £825m.
All these countries do not permit opposition to exist, torture is widely practised, human rights lawyers and activists are routinely arrested, and women are not equal citizens. Foreign workers are treated dreadfully and the gleaming towers which feature in their promotional videos involve the deaths of many hundreds of indentured labourers.
Needless to say, Israel features and the UK governments continued support for arms sales despite the genocide taking place there. Interestingly, they report that Spain has ceased all arms sales and Germany likewise. It had been reported that the German Chancellor has reduced sales but CAAT report that no new exports have been approved.
The claim by the UK government that it has ‘robust’ controls is contradicted by the use of the secretive Open General Export Licences (OGEL). Looking at the list of restricted destinations [accessed 23 January] one finds that Israel is not listed. CAAT say that around half our exports to Israel are by this method.
Revolving door
The scandal of the revolving door continues. This concerns senior individuals in government or the forces taking up roles for arms companies following their retirement. There is a set of rules, which are largely sidestepped, to prevent abuse by people using their contacts to further the interests of the arms companies. These are set to be abolished this year and a new system introduced following a long list of scandals. We await to see how effective the new system will be. CAAT reveals the names of two new entrants to this hall of shame: Sir Simon Bollom, Head of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support, and Sir Mark Poffley formerly Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. They will be joining Elbit Systems the Israeli arms firm which has facilities in the UK. They can use their influence to promote the interests of Elbit Systems. CAAT say there is no suggestion of impropriety.
A lengthy Private Eye report on this corruption, lists many names of politicians and others involved.
RAF flights over Gaza
The RAF continues to overfly GAZA and there are reports that the information gathered is being used to assist the Israeli IDF. The Ministry of Defence maintains that these flights were “solely to locate hostages,” yet the scale, timing and persistence of the flights raises questions as to how much they aided Israel’s military operations despite being conducted under the banner of humanitarian intent. It is not clear that any hostages were identified by the RAF.
The CAAT newsletter, together with previous newsletters and reports, paints a picture of the UK government which is more interested in supporting sales of weapons as part of its growth policy, than in the humanitarian effects these weapons have on the millions who suffer from their use. The high use of open licences means few meaningful controls are in place. They also proudly promote and support the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) each year in London with the innocent sounding claim that it ‘promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies‘. (Source, DSEI 2027 Home page).
The sums involved are large and defence (defense) firms are a key part in some local economies. Controls based on a sense of moral purpose and a proper exercise of end user certificates would curtail their activities and hence employment. It is a tail wagging a somewhat compliant dog.
Previous posts
'No One Else Has It,' Claims Trump When Asked About 'Secret Sonic Weapon' Used in Venezuela
https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.commondreams.org/us-secret-sonic-weapon
3,000 jobs at risk unless MoD signs helicopter order, sources say https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/11/3000-jobs-at-risk-unless-mod-signs-helicopter-order-sources-say #Business #ManufacturingSector #AerospaceIndustry #MinistryOfDefence #UkNews #Somerset #England #Italy #Europe #WorldNews #ArmsTrade #Unite #TradeUnions #Politics
China imposes sanctions on US defence firms over Taiwan arms deal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/26/china-imposes-sanctions-on-us-defence-firms-over-taiwan-arms-deal #ArmsTrade #China #UsMilitary #AsiaPacific #UsNews #WorldNews #TrumpAdministration #UsDefenceSpending #UsNationalSecurity #UsForeignPolicy #Taiwan
UK denies Milei’s claim of talks over Falklands-era ban on Argentina arms sales https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/11/uk-denies-mileis-claim-of-talks-over-falklands-era-ban-on-argentina-arms-sales #FalklandIslands #Foreignpolicy #JavierMilei #Argentina #Armstrade #Worldnews #Americas #Politics #UKnews
Wil je erachterkomen welke banden jouw universiteit heeft met de wapenindustrie? Helpt het bedrijf waar je werkt mee aan wapentransporte naar oorlogsgebieden?
Leer hoe je dit kunt uitzoeken tijdens de
Arms Trade Research Lab
https://stopwapenhandel.org/arms-trade-research-lab-doe-mee/
#informationskills #researchskills #onderzoek #ArmsTrade #StopWapenHandel #Wapenindustrie #SocialeVerantwoordelijkheid
Africa: Rising Arms Revenues and Rising Death Tolls Underscore Ongoing Military Conflicts & Civil Wars: [IPS] United Nations -- The revenues from arms sales and military services by the 100 largest arms-producing companies rose by 5.9 per cent in 2024, reaching a record $679 billion, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). http://newsfeed.facilit8.network/TPZnng #Africa #ArmsTrade #MilitaryConflicts #CivilWars #PeaceResearch
Our top stories today: https://www.thestatesignal.com/web-stories/latest-on-honduras-elections-and-global-updates/
#thestatesignal #honduras #politics #news #politicalnews #uspolitics #gaza #breakingnews #armstrade #arms #trade #money #defense #israel #palestine #hamas #syria #westbank #elections #japan #military #defense #defenseindustry #weapons #army #war #explosion
The illegal arms trade is tiny — but fuels most global gun violence.
Cartels → Africa militias → Middle East proxies → Asian insurgents → Europe’s gangs.
Here’s how it REALLY works.
Full article on the blog.
#ArmsTrade #Crime #Geopolitics https://www.ryanjhite.com/2025/11/29/inside-the-illegal-arms-trade-how-weapons-move-around-the-world/
I've just signed this #petition - you might like to, too.
#British weapons are fuelling #Sudan’s #genocide through #arms exports to the #UAE. End the massacres and forced starvation of the Sudanese people now!
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