Week 7 in #wapenhandel25tweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.)

Onder de volgende tekst – waarin één of meer tweets zijn verwerkt – staan de 25 tweets van deze week.

Het is al vaak gezegd en geschreven: Turkije is onmisbaar voor de Europese Unie en de NAVO. Voor beide betekent het de toegang tot het Nabije Oosten. Het grenst aan Rusland en centraal Azië. Ligt kortom heel strategisch. Dat is niet alleen van militair strategisch belang, maar ook voor de controle op vluchtelingen naar Europa essentieel.

Deze week kwam de Duits-Turkse journalist Deniz Yücel vrij die over wapenexporten had gerapporteerd, maar ging een politicus die hetzelfde deed het gevang in (zie 8). Oorlog over de grens met Syrië wordt tegen de Koerden op grote schaal gevoerd, omdat Turkije wil voorkomen dat de positie van die Koerden langs de zuidgrens te sterk wordt.

In de Egeïsche zee kwam het deze week tot een botsing met de Griekse kustwacht in een conflict om eilanden voor de kust. Ook daar ligt het land op ramkoers. (zie 9) Zie voor een kort overzicht van dit conflict Troepenbewegingen.

De Turkse inspanningen om tot een eigen defensie-industrie te komen, lijken als je de berichten wil geloven bijna afgerond. Maar op de Verenigde Staten en China (op termijn) na is er geen land dat zijn eigen wapenindustrie kan opzetten. Turkije is nog steeds afhankelijk van het buitenland (zie 7).

Progressieve vredesbewegers zouden zich daarom nog steeds kunnen richten op een wapenembargo naar Turkije. Ook voor Nederlandse organisaties liggen daar aanknopingspunten. (zie 1) De situatie op het speelbord is niet rooskleurig; er zijn weinig partijen die mee lijken te willen doen aan deze strijd. Maar activisten, Linke en Grünen bij onze oosterburen geven het goede voorbeeld. Wel tegen het steeds wijzigende overheidsbeleid in.

Nederland (zie ook 14, 17, 19, 23, 26)

1 – 170118: Parliamentary motion by Dutch MP Karabulut for arms embargo to Turkey. How about initiatives in other EU member states? https://www.tweedekamer.nl/downloads/document?id=bd6e1d66-0042-4dc4-b3d4-a25aab008d39&title=Motie%20van%20het%20lid%20Karabulut%20over%20het%20stoppen%20van%20de%20wapenexport%20aan%20Turkije.doc

EUROPA (zie 22, 27)

Duitsland

2 – 140218: German parliamentary report: Turkey's Leopard tanks never violated agreements. Stern: "Postponed does not mean canceled. Apparently Rheinmetall headquarters has already firmly assumed that the permission for the [tank modernisation] exports will come." https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/02/14/german-parliamentary-report-turkeys-leopard-tanks-never-violated-international-laws

Finland

3 – 170218: Russian press happy with this story: Mysterious death of Finnish arms agent in Uganda turns into thriller: https://sputniknews.com/europe/201802161061722381-finland-uganda-arms-death/ via @SputnikInt

Frankrijk

4 – 120218: #Thales awarded a 42-month contract to conduct a set of studies and technological developments for a sonar system to be equipped on France’s future third-generation #nuclear-powered ballistic missile #submarine (SNLE 3G). Key points https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/press-release/french-navys-future-nuclear-powered-submarine-carry-thales-next

5 – 170218: Some European countries have raised concerns about weapon sales to countries involved in the conflict in Yemen. But French Minister of Defence Parly defended the French export policy, saying it follow strict rules — and that it is vital for industry. https://www.defensenews.com/smr/munich-security-forum/2018/02/16/french-defense-minister-european-defense-industry-needs-export-to-survive/

Spanje

6 – 170218: Greenpeace protesting in Bilbao against the shipment of arms destined to the countries of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war. [in Spanish]

¡ACCIÓN! Activistas de Greenpeace protestan en Bilbao contra el envío ilegal de armamento

https://es.greenpeace.org/es/noticias/actividaddesarme/

Turkije (zie ook 1, 2)

7 – 120218: Turkey to bolster fight against Kurds in Syria with new #FNSS (#Nurol Holding and #BAES) armored vehicles, and #TAI, #Sykorsky helicopters https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2018/02/12/turkey-to-bolster-fight-in-syria-with-new-armored-vehicles-helicopters/

8 – 130218: Turkish opposition MP (CHP) Enis Berberoglu sentenced 5 years and 10 months for showing Cumhuriyet newspaper a video of Turkish weapons shipment to parts of Syria held by foreign-backed terrorists. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1FX2DN

9 – 190218: Collision caught on video. Greek vessel (of Dutch shipbuilder Damen) collided with Turkish (Ficantieri developped and armed with Bofors 40mm cannon) Coast Guard vessel Umut. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/collision-of-greek-boat-turkish-vessel-caught-on-video/2018/02/17/00b3a580-1405-11e8-a68c-e9374188170e_story.html

VK

10 – 120218: Ban on import of palm oil, may thrown into jeopardy sale of 18 EFA Typhoon jets plus weapons and other equipment to Kuala Lumpur. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/917243/brussels-palm-oil-ban-british-defence-contracts-france-kuala-lampur

11 – 120218: BAE proposes UK government financing to #Malaysia for Typhoon jet deal valued £1.44 billion https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-bae-systems-malaysia/bae-proposes-uk-government-financing-to-malaysia-for-typhoon-jet-deal-idUKKBN1FX0E2

12 – 120218: Why not? Modernizing head-up displays for United Arab Emirates F-16 bombers fleet | BAE Systems | International https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/modernizing-head-up-displays-for-united-arab-emirates-f-16-fleet

REST VAN DE WERELD

Canada

13 – 110218: Philippines to cancel $233mn copter deal with Canada, because there is always a condition attached. http://img.gulf-times.com/Content/PDF/Dailynewspaper/Main2018_2_10153121.PDF

Chili

14 – 130218: Chili zoekt naar vervanging oude Nederlandse L-fregatten. https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Chili-zoekt-naar-vervanger-L-fregatten-130218.html

China (zie ook 18)

15 – 130218: China's growing role as a source of sophisticated weaponry is something that is worrying many countries. Western air forces have enjoyed some three decades of dominance. But the "anti-access" strategy weapons, could be employed by others. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43036302

Egypte

16 – 170218: Egypt urged to halt cluster-bombs use in North Sinai @AJENews http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/amnesty-raises-alarm-egypt-cluster-bomb-video-180215091910456.html

Israël

17 – 120218: Israeli FIMI acquires US defence tech firm Aitech from Dutch investors group | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/77807/fimi-acquires-aitech

Filipijnen (zie 13)

India

18 – 140218: Green light for arms purchase including light machine guns and sniper and assault rifles, for soldiers of the three armed forces posted along India's borders with Pakistan and China. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/green-light-for-arms-purchase-208498

Jemen (zie 5, 6)

Maleisië (zie 10-11)

Pakistan (zie 18)

Saoedi-Arabië (zie 6)

Taiwan (zie 28)

Uganda (zie 3)

Verenigde Arabische Emiraten (zie 12)

DEFENSIE-INDUSTRIE

19 – 130218: 2017 was a record year for deal value in the global aerospace and defense industry, with $72 billion, surpassing the previous record of $67 billion set in 2015.

Dutch Gemalto in top-10 deals. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industrial-products/publications/assets/pwc-aerospace-defense-industry-mergers-acquisitions-q4-2017.pdf

Airbus

20 – 120218: Airbus to pay €81m to end German corruption probe https://shar.es/1NS4cL

21 – 170218: Airbus corruption case in the US may expand. Airbus says US seeks information on UK/French corruption case https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-results-usa-corruption/airbus-says-u-s-seeks-information-on-uk-french-corruption-case-idUSKCN1FZ0JN

21 – 130218: Airbus Helicopters sales to Serbia and Thailand. Company reveals first customer for armed ‘HForce’ is Serbia. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-02-12/airbus-helicopters-reveals-first-customer-hforce

22 – 140218: An unsuccesful OCCAR project. Exclusive: Europe's A400M army plane may see some features axed. Airbus has already written off almost 7 billion euros on the project. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-a400m-exclusive/exclusive-europes-a400m-army-plane-may-see-some-features-axed-idUSKBN1FW1TR

Damen (zie 9)

Fokker

23 – 180218: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems designs a new #drone for the US Navy’s MQ-25 Contest. #Fokker/GKN maybe involved. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-02-16/ga-asi-designs-new-uav-us-navys-mq-25-contest

Thales (zie 4, France)

WAPENS

Clusterwapens (zie 16)

Drones (zie 23)

F-35

24 – 170218: Indian Air Force (#IAF) is formally requesting a classified briefing on F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet from its developer, Lockheed Martin, Business Standard reported.

https://defpost.com/india-request-lockheed-martin-classified-briefing-f-35-stealth-fighter-jet/

And do the other participants agree? Nuclear capable fighter to India?

Kleine wapens (zie ook 18)

25 – 130218: Legendary small arms producer Remington is planning to file for bankruptcy. Video: 33.000 Killed by them annually. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-12/cerberus-s-remington-will-cede-control-to-lenders-in-bankruptcy

26 – 140218: Netherlands signed a seven-year contract for the delivery of HK416A5 rifles for special forces. The single source procurement worth €14 million with Condor Arhem (http://www.condorarnhem.nl/) includes an option for an additional three years. | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/77910/netherlands-buys-hk416a5-for-special-forces#.WoVPtana8Bo.twitter

Observatie technologie (IT)

27 – 140218: Current reform of the EU export control regime is in large part driven by an increased focus on texports of surveillance items to specific controls. This article touches on these and other changes. https://www.financierworldwide.com/review-of-eu-export-controls-of-dual-use-items#.WolQj6jwbg-

Speciale Troepen (zie 26)

OVERIG

Corruptie (zie ook 20-21)

28 – 130218: Corruption in the Taiwanese shipbuilding industry. Chairman of Taiwan navy contract ship firm charged with fraud http://www.france24.com/en/20180213-chairman-taiwan-navy-contract-ship-firm-charged-with-fraud via @FRANCE24

Defensiebudget

Lobby

Onderzoek en activisme (zie ook 19)

29 – 130218: The campaign against the European Defence Fund the Scientists for Global Responsibility has joined with other European campaign groups and set up the Researchers for Peace website, https://www.researchersforpeace.eu/

See what you can do! Full article:

http://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/eu-moves-military-science-and-technology

30 – 130218: Veiligheidsbeleid vooral in het belang van de wapenindustrie https://www.grenzeloos.org/node/10683

This is a selection from a larger amount of tweets. Tweets with a relation the Netherlands, arms trade and defence-industry weight heavier in the selection. If you want to have them daily see http://twitter.com/martinbroek