*** Retweet
@Counter_Balance: We stand against mounting pressure on the @EIB
to increase support for the military-industrial complex. Public money
should be tackling the cost of living crisis & climate emergency,
not fuel the arms race & corporate profits. #EUCO
#NoEIBMilitarisation
https://twitter.com/Counter_Balance/status/1770748577926570458
*** #Belgium
approved additional military aid of $448 million for #Ukraine,
including artillery rounds (value € 373.1). A total of € 412m in
#ammunition will be sourced from Belgian military stocks and
international group purchase from various companies.
https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-approves-additional-military-aid-for-ukraine
Arms
production in Ukraine tripled in 2023. The state began the production
of missiles with a range of more than 643.7 km, as well as analogues
of HIMARS systems.
“The
biggest challenges of our times, from climate change to
global pandemics, will require cooperation, solidarity, and
collective action, not militarism”.
*** Het
ministerie van BuZa in Den Haag is besmeurd met rode verf. Voor de
besmeurde ramen en deur is een lint gespannen. Een actiegroep
verklaart dat het is gedaan omdat de Nederlandse overheid
medeplichtig is 'aan de genocide in Palestina'.
https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4817333/ministerie-besmeurd-met-rode-verf
After the outbreak of war in 2022, the
faction of Swedish Left Party against sending anti-tank missiles to
Ukraine had the upper hand. Now the party changed its stance. Nooshi
Dadgostars view won to deliver Ukraine more arms.
#Thales, #Dassault Aviation and #MBDA
all conducted their annual investor events over the last two weeks,
with the three firms collectively announcing revenues of €27.7bn in
2023, a massive haul for #France’s defense sector.
Remarkably the failure of much of its
weaponry and pressure to replace arms imports from Russia by
acquisitions in the West lags in this short overview.
Een vd grootste vernieuwingen vindt CDR
Kwak de wapensystemen. “We kunnen straks naast torpedo’s ook
kruisvluchtwapens inzetten.” Deze #Tomahawk-raketten, die Defensie
nog niet heeft, kunnen doelen op 1.500 km afstand aanvallen.
https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2024/02/02_nieuwe-onderzeeboten
De
miljarden rollen van de helling:
Defensie werkt aan nog meer marine
schepen: de vervanging van de Luchtverdedigings- en Commandofregatten
en, parallel lopend, de vervanging van de amfibische LPD's en de
OceanGoing Patrol Vessels (OPV's).
https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2024/02/07_nieuw-lcf-lpd-opv
Het artikel sluit af met: Serieuze
diplomatieke onderhandelingen zijn nu essentieel om tot de kern te
komen van wat er nodig is om vrede te brengen in Oekraïne. *** The
military isn’t properly tracking what happens to the billions’
worth of weapons being sent to Ukraine, even though the country has a
history of illicit arms diversions.
https://www.levernews.com/the-great-unknown-about-the-u-s-weapons-deluge-in-ukraine/
*** The EU’s
foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday condemned the lack of
aid entering Gaza as “man-made” disaster in which starvation is
being used as a weapon of war.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2475886/amp
According to many that is what is
needed to defend civilisation. How civil it is. *** Killer drones from
Israel IAI: buy them all. Advertisement ➔
***
Italian firm
#Fincantieri has teamed up with Emirati defense conglomerate #Edge
Group to build and sell naval vessels to #non-NATO countries. The
venture aims to take advantage of the UAE relations with other
states.
*** 25 Groups
demand #Biden 'Urgently comply with US law' and end #Israel #arms
sales.
*** Security? Bombed by what you've paid your taxes
for.
UK & US organisations say Israeli
officials have offered 6 different explanations as to why #Gaza
compound in safe zone was hit. But the bombing on British #doctors
was likely with #UK and #US arms.
*** "The
bottom line is that the US is spending far too much on the #Pentagon,
much of it...likely to cause far more harm than good. It’s time to
reverse course, but neither the White House nor a majority in
Congress are likely to do so of their own accord"
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pentagon-budget-2667494544/
*** The UK
Telegraph identified 5 ships likely for arms traffic laundering: the
Daisy, Kashan, Shiba, Arezoo & Azargoun. They carried goods to
Syria from Iran, with several being recorded as docked at the ports
(in Belgium, Spain & Italy) named in the report.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-792080
Wat veel politici missen in hun omgang
met de oorlog in Oekraïne is realiteitszin. Het is een misvatting om
enkel de militaire kaart te spelen. Uiteindelijk gaat het erom het
voortbestaan van Oekraïne veilig te stellen.
https://archive.ph/Dxz1M#selection-1205.0-1205.219
*** Nederland
heeft zelf de keuze gemaakt de handelsoorlog van de VS tegen China
volgen ten koste van een van z'n belangrijkste technologie bedrijven.
Washington boven Veldhoven.
#Carl_Gustaf Weapon System to be ‘Made
in India’ for India & the World
Registered as an Indian company, it
plans to make components for the world & after fulfilling the
Indian requirement & to export the Carl-Gustaf globally.
*** #Sweden’s
arms exports rose 18% in 2023 to reach 1.6 billion euros as the
#Russia-#Ukraine war drove a search for #weaponry, a government
agency said last week. https://www.brecorder.com/news/40291929
*** All in the
interest of peace and security?
The US and EU are supplying the most
weapons to the Middle East, including to Israel, as the Gaza war
threatens to ignite a regional conflict.
*** The #Saudi
Ministry of Defense (MoD) is said to be embarking on a new era of
space defense initiatives, with a specific focus on integrating
artificial intelligence (#AI).
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62595
Those willing to help behind Paywall.
*** Russian cargo
ship returns to North Korean port in sign of arms trade restart.
Zou er geen Nederlandse Parlementariër
onder de lijst met honderden volksvertegenwoordigers uit België,
Duitsland, Frankrijk, Ierland, Portugal, Spanje en VK e.a. willen?
Collega's uit de alle buurlanden staan
er wel tussen. @TweedeKamerTwit #IsraelGazaWar
Retweet
@nikiashton: Mar 1, Canada sent $28
million worth of weaponry to Israel amid its ongoing massacre of
Palestinians in Gaza. That is horrifying. Which is why I along with
@jeremycorbyn and 200+ parliamentarians across the world are backing
@ProgIntl call for a ban on arms exports to Israel. Replying to
@nikiashton @jeremycorbyn and @ProgIntl
*** The Database
on German Arms Trade wants to improve transparency. In the database
there is information on the industries and export data, and more
source on individual deliverances.
*** Mexico
in Numbers: Illegal weapons trafficking. Article with a load of
figures on small arms in Mexico coming from the United Sates.
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-in-numbers-illegal-weapons-trafficking/
Unfortunately, the countries where fire arms are coming from
having a non-US origin are not mentioned.
March 1
*** #Italy:
Amending current law to facilitate arms exports
Colombia’s President Petro on
Thursday announced to suspended arms imports from Israel and called
on a global boycott of Israel. Hereby he responded to a massacre of
more than a hundred Palestinians in Gaza.
In Dutch daily
Trouw: A recent alarming report from #ENAAT
https://enaat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ENAAT-Report-WarLobby2WarEconomy_Sept2023-FINAL.pdf,
a network against arms trade, shows that the #lobby & influence
of the arms industry in the efforts to militarise Europe is great.
They even reach as far as the Commission.
https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/tweede-kamer-moet-controle-houden-op-wapenexport~b746e5b0/
Some
deals: - communication euipment to Algeria. Back on memory lane
https://volkskrant.nl/home/van-mierlo-sluit-wapenverkoop-aan-algerije-niet-uit~be828c02/ -
Bangladesh still buys equipment for the frigate it was donated by the
Saudi's in '99 for support during the 1990/91 Gulfwar. More on the
vessel.
https://min.news/en/military/746ad8b8dd6dbba858251b79a76b3d2b.html -
Military regime Egypt is one the largest receipient. 3 Orders
combined € 70 million. It includes the biggest license of all. -
To Israel there are 5 licenses, including vehicle vission technology.
- To Turkey 10 orders, including vehicle components. -
Ukraine is a major receiver but most information is given as ********
etc etc. ____________
*** SKorean MoD
Shin Won-sik estimated that NKorea and Russia have traded more than
6,700 containers of weaponry. He said 26/2: "If it's 152mm
shells, it's more than 3 million rounds, and if it's 122mm multiple
rocket launchers, it's more than 500,000 rounds."
https://www.mk.co.kr/en/politics/10951979
*** Germany’s
deputy FM, Tobias Lindner, expressed optimism about the multi-bn euro
#submarine deal between #India & #TKMS. Lindner’s comments came
during his participation in the a conference held in New Delhi
focusing on geopolitics/international relations.
https://en.ganganews.com/world/germany-optimistic-on-india-submarine-deal/
*** “Khaki”
threatens to become the new “green”. Tackling #climate change
will, among other things, depend on reducing global military
spending, eliminating nuclear weapons, de-escalating tensions, and
promoting diplomacy, peace, and international cooperation.
https://www.pressenza.com/2024/02/is-khaki-the-new-green/
*** #Hanwha
expected to sign $751 mn #howitzer deal with #Romania.
*** Investeer
meer in wapens, zei minister Ollongren van Defensie. ASN Bank doet
dat niet, want wapenhandel is onethisch, zegt @pietsprengers:
'Je verdient geld aan oorlog'. Hoogleraar wapenhandel Jeroen Klomp is
het daar niet mee eens. Reactie
op @NPORadio1 bericht: #Ollongren, de
Minister voor Inlichtingendiensten, bommenwerpers en wapenindustrie.
Hans van Mierlo werd tenminste nog ziek
toen bleek dat Nederland wapens aan Algerije verkocht en hij dat
moest verantwoorden.
*** Two Canadian
Conservative Shadow Ministers stated in response to reports of
Canadian-made drone parts and detonators used by Russia against
Ukraine:
*** The UNSC sanctions
committee imposed an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze on 2
leaders of the Allied Democratic Forces #ADF, one leader from the
#Twirwaneho group and one from the National People's Coalition for
the Sovereignty of Congo #CNPSC. Also added to the UN list were
#M23's military spokesperson and a leader from the Democratic Forces
for the Liberation of Rwanda #FDLR.
https://www.dw.com/en/dr-congo-un-security-council-sanctions-6-rebels-over-violence/a-68313674#DRC #Rwanda
*** Japan's
defense ministry takes part in Singapore Airshow for first time. Public-private initiative targets deals
with China-wary Southeast Asian countries.
Japanese
MoD makes first appearance at foreign airshow, seeking arms exports
#Japan brought 14 companies to the
#Singapore Airshow, the first non-Japanese airshow the government has
displayed #arms at since loosening export controls.
"CAR identified 26 companies,
headquartered in eight jurisdictions (China, Germany, Japan,
#Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States),
that are linked to the production of these components."
*** US position
on the Saudi requests for the civil nuclear program and a military
pact is said to have witnessed a breakthrough (a comprehensive
overview behind paywall). This development coincides with efforts by
the Saudi MoD to diversify arms suppliers.
https://www.tacticalreport.com/daily/62549
#Australia’s
opaque defence goods export policy has raised concerns that goods
made in Australia could be being exported and used by the Israeli
Defence Forces.
The only part
of the Dutch exports of strategic products which somewhat upholds a 2
decades old transparency system of reporting individual licenses is
on dual use (until dec '23). It shows exports to #China (table) &
to Israel a the fluid with >30% #Triethanolamine #TEOA
#TEOA
was sent to #Israel for cleaning agents. TEOA is on the schedule 3
list of the #CWC.
*** Next attack
on Germany's stringent regulations governing arms exports in article
titled: #Germany ‘derails’ #Arjun Mk-1A tank project by
‘delaying’ #engines; Indian military experts decode #MTU move.
*** Extensive
evaluation of Dutch Court decision to halt F-35 parts to Israel by
León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, of the Asser Institute for
International and European Law in The Hague.
https://verfassungsblog.de/f-35/
*** The world
will be asked to help #Lockheed Martin.
"Lockheed stresses global demand
for F-35s as US buys may dip"
And the wold will say Yes to Uncle Sam
in Fort Worth, even #Europe, at the expense of its own fighter
production.
*** #Explosion
Hits Russian Space Agency’s Siberian #Rocket #Engine Facility. An
explosion occurred in southern #Russia, raising concerns about
potential damage to a defense manufacturing plant early on Thursday.
#Byisk
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-siberia-altai-explosion-roscosmos-1870205 *** In the interest of peace and security?
#Turkey and #Egypt resume relations
through #arms deal. Although major differences remain, Cairo and
Ankara are moving closer after years of estrangement.
*** Report to
Congress on US Special Operations Forces #SOF. As of 2023, #USSOCOM
has +/- 70,000 personnel. Its 4 components, #USASOC, #NSWC, #AFSOC &
#MARSOC).
*** #België is
een draaischijf voor illegale #wapenhandel en het probleem wordt
steeds groter. Ondertussen moeten de diensten die dit bestrijden, 't
met steeds minder volk en middelen doen. Onschuldige mensen sterven.
De regering faalt. Meldt Belgische #PvdA.
https://www.pvda.be/wapenhandel-aanpak-van-regering-faalt
Saw a banner in the Swedish Prliament
asking for #alternatives. More to healthcare, housing, climate &
schools. Seems to be a wiser demand than this praise of fast growing
#military #budgets.
*** Pro-Palestinian
protesters interrupt Canadian PM Trudeau during House of Commons
question period
*** Israël was
in 2023 na de VS & 't VK de voornaamste eindbestemming voor
Vlaamse wapenexport. In totaal verleende Vlaanderen 9
uitvoervergunningen voor militaire goederen naar Israël, zo blijkt
uit info van de Vlaamse dienst Controle Strategische Goederen.
https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240213_96217723
*** CNN notes:
Calls grow in Europe to halt arms
exports to Israel.
*** Dutch
Labour/GreenLeft refused to undersign amendment to stop all
activities of the Israeli military industry in the Netherlands &
stop coop with the Israeli Armed Forces. GreenLeft's policy has
enormously changed in the past 20 yrs. Supported by the SP, Partij vd
Dieren & DENK.
*** Please find
here the 1st #ENAAT Newsletter of the year
Main issues are the public consultation
on the Defence Fund mid-term review & the political deal on the
revision of the EU 2021-2027 budget putting #war and #borders before
#climate and foreign #aid.
*** Biden doesn’t
plan to stop Israel support. New memo requires human rights
assurances for arms transfers, but the White House says it won't
restrict military aid for Israel.
*** #Azerbaijan
opens facilities for new #Akinci drone. Baku, the other ethic
cleanser, bought the #Turkish-made combat system from the
#NATO-country and also the rifht to produce.
The Akinci’s 1,500-kilogram payload
is 10 times more than that of the TB2.
*** China makes
presence felt at Saudi arms fair wds2024, outpacing US, Russia.
The equipment on display by China was
dominated by armed & unarmed drones, but also fighter jets,
missiles, long-range air and missile defence systems, anti-tank and
C4ISR kit.
*** US briefed
#Israel on a new US security memorandum. It does not impose new
conditions on how US military equipment may be used, but it does
require the administration to send a report to Congress annually on
whether countries are meeting the requirements.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2457376/world
*** Conflict
between #M23 rebels & government forces is intensifying in
eastern #DRC's Masisi territory, local sources said, with six killed
on Wednesday and many more injured.
*** US officials
should say what they & every impartial observer know about
Israel’s conduct in #Gaza: unacceptable & if it doesn't change,
US policy toward #military_assistance to Israel will. The price will
be high. But the price of hypocrisy is even higher.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/how-end-americas-hypocrisy-gaza
Si bellum vis, armis utere sine
temperantia, M. Braccas.
*** #Saudi Arabia
‘keen’ to join #GCAP fighter program
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Combat_Air_Programme), but
#localization a must: GAMI governor
*** #Japanese and
#German governments recently signed the Acquisition and
Cross-Servicing Agreements #ACSA to facilitate the mutual
replenishment of food, fuel and #ammunition between the Japan
Self-Defense Forces and the Bundeswehr.
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16286074.html
Developed by NHIndustriesa a
partnership #Airbus Helicopters, #Leonardo, and #Fokker
Aerostructures the NH90 is designed to fulfill a variety of military
roles, including troop transportation, cargo support, special
operations, search and rescue, and maritime patrol.
*** Jacob Zuma
"zou eind jaren negentig zijn omgekocht door de Franse
wapenproducent #Thales, die daarmee een grote aanbesteding van
defensie wist binnen te halen - een beschuldiging die Zuma overigens
nog steeds ontkent.
Heel vaak is het verhaal nog niet
verteld. Als ik zoek op Zuma, Thales en corruptie dan vind ik 44
treffers tussen 2003 en vandaag in een krantendatabank, waarvan vier
deze week.
De directie van het Thales concern
zetelt inderdaad in Frankrijk, maar is Thales Nederland is al
sinds 1990 deel van het bedrijf (toen nog Thomson CSF) en heeft
vestigingen in Hengelo, Huizen, Delft en Eindhoven. Op het gebied van
marine technologie neemt het een centrale plaats in bij Thales.
Thales Nederland is een van de grootste
wapenproducenten van Nederland en ja corruptie en
wapenproductie zijn twee handen op een buik.
Winst gaat boven moraal. Vooral
vastgoed en wapensector zijn uitblinkers in de corruptiestatistieken.
Blijkbaar wordt dat gemakkelijk vergeten. Maar niet altijd.
The company is present on the World
Defense Show #WDS2024 in Riyadh, #Saudi Arabia. The arms fair is this
week opened by the Saudi Minister of Defence Prince Khaled.
Also
present from the Netherlands;
PALS Communication Technologies B.V. - satellite antenna's MAGNUM® / TOTECTORS® - armed forces footwear Airbus - (juridically/financially based in the
Netherlands)
*** #Itochu Corp's
aviation unit will end its strategic cooperation with #Israeli
military company #Elbit Systems Ltd by the end of February amid the
war in #Gaza, the #Japanese trading house's executive said on Monday.
https://archive.ph/UDOFR#selection-1581.0-1581.69 *** Next.
#Korea and #Qatar have signed an initial agreement to strengthen
bilateral defence cooperation during talks between their defence
chiefs, officials said Wednesday, amid Seoul's push to boost
#arms_exports to the Middle East.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/02/113_368418.html
*** How exports
of hightech components for #Turkish #Bayraktar drones intended for
acts of aggression are controled by the #EU? Answer by EU Vice-Pres
Dombrovskis after allmost 3 months on behalf of the European
Commission 06/02/24.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-003039-ASW_EN.pdf
#Kia,
South #Korea’s 2nd-largest automaker, has unveiled its
next-generation military vehicle technologies at the largest #arms
fair in the Middle East, the World Defense Show 2024 (#WDS2024) in
#Riyadh, as part of a search for new markets.
https://www.kedglobal.com/aerospace-defense/newsView/ked202402060007
*** Poland
allocates loan for joint arms production between Ukraine and Poland.
"We have components of Polish
weapons that are already fighting in Ukraine, and now we are talking
about joint production," Ihor Zhovkva (Dep Head Ukr.
Presidential Office) said.
*** Drone-race in
North Africa. #Turkey agreed to provide its increasingly popular
#drones (unspecified) to #Egypt after the two countries normalised
ties following a decade of rupture, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said
on Sunday.
*** Thousands of
pro-Palestinian protestors marched in #Geneva, Switzerland, on
Saturday to demand an end to #arms_sales to the #Israeli occupation
entity and an immediate #ceasefire in Gaza Strip.
https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=3135450&language=en
*** Time for
change.
The issue of an arms embargo on Israel
is currently not on the EU's agenda, the Latvian Foreign Ministry
told.
Over 1,500 EU officials have signed a
letter calling on the EU to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
Britain’s arms trade is making a
killing, with billions of taxpayers’ money being handed to arms
manufacturers that give investors rich returns. This scheme seems to
remain an integral feature of the government’s business model.
Why,
when is is so important to security, is arms production still left to
market partiesfist of all interested in their own market position? Or
are other (ideological) considerations more important?
De variant die ik ken is
van de Director Government Relations van Thales: “we bijten niet in
de hand die ons voedt.” Met andere woorden de overheid zet de
lijnen uit, de wapengigant volgt slechts dit beleid.
ENG:
The Republic of Kazakhstan has signed a contract to purchase another
C295 transport aircraft, Airbus announced on 31 January 2024. The
Kazakh Air Force already operates eight C295s, while a single C295 is
in service with the Kazakh Border Service.
https://euro-sd.com/2024/01/major-news/36243/kazakhstan-orders-another-c295/
Proud Boys, other far-right groups use
Texas convoy as rallying cry. The 'Take Our Border Back' protest
convoy is being used as a recruiting tool by fringe groups that
advocate for violence against migrants.
In Le Monde (see previous tweet) the
German acquisition policy is also criticized because of "Forget
about ‘European preference’."
*** As the world
rearms, the defence industry licks its lips; Ukraine conflict boosts
the business of war. But article also states: ‘Ukraine today, East
Asia tomorrow’ https://mondediplo.com/maps/profits-war
*** The UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights reiterated that the deteriorating
situation in Myanmar is in a “freefall” with “#insufficient
world attention paid to the misery and pain of its people.” Nearly
50,000 killed since 2021 military coup in #Myanmar. https://english.dvb.no/nearly-50000-killed-since-2021-military-coup-states-acled/