zondag 29 juli 2018

Week 30 in #wapenhandel25tweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.
Please like or share if it is helpful or interesting for you.)

Netherlands / Nederland (see also 13, 20 en 21)

1 – 240718: Hidden parts of the Dutch arms export policy. Written for @CTWnl (Stop Wapenhandel / Stop Arms Trade) http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/07/hidden-parts-of-dutch-arms-export-policy.html

Tabel 1: Dutch export licenses for components in 2017 (€ 20 million or more)
date
Description
Country of destination
Country of final destination
Value (€)
1-9-2017
Parts for diverse aircraft and helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
30.000.000
23-3-2017
Parts for military transport aircraft
UK
UK
27.240.000
19-5-2017
Parts for transport aircraft
TURKEY
UK
27.240.000
18-4-2017
Parts for diverse aircraft and helicopter engines
US
US
27.000.000
17-2-2017
Parts for Tiger and NH90 helicopters and A400M freight aircraft
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
25.000.000
13-6-2017
Parts for air missiles and aircraft.
US
US
22.326.962
11-1-2017
Parts for F-16 fighter aircraft and diverse helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
20.000.000
21-12-2017
Parts for diverse types fighter aircraft and -helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
20.000.000
Total
198.806.962

EUROPE

2 – 250718: Arms industry/exports/funding NEWS FROM THE BRUSSELS’ BUBBLE #2018-4, 24 JULY 2018, by ENAAT, http://enaat.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ENAAT-NBB-2018-04_24.07.2018.pdf

3 – 290718: The European Commission is afraid of reputational damage because of opposition from ngo's against EU funding for the arms industry. #noEUmoney4arms @_ENAAT

France (see also 6)

4 – 230718: French fighter manufacturer Dassault net profit rose in the first half of 2018 to €186m, from €166m a year ago thanks to Mideast deals. Exports of the Rafale accounted for the bulk of the order book, with sales to Egypt, Qatar and India. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/07/20/dassault-reports-net-profit-spike-in-first-half-of-2018-thanks-to-mideast-deals/

5 – 240718: France makes progress on refitting submarine for nuclear M51 missiles https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/07/23/france-makes-progress-on-refitting-submarine-for-m51-missiles/

Germany / Deutchland (see 23)

Italy / Italia (see also 13)

6 – 270718: Main message is: The French are trying to weaken Fincantieri and "the shareholders should make this remarkable company to abandon the suicidal "French strategy" and push new scenarios." https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/la-trappola-francese-nell-industria-militare-201807262116592899

Spain / España (see 23, 24)

Turkey / Türkiye (see also 22)

7 – 230718: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is urging Congress not to bar Turkey from purchasing the Lockheed Martin F-35, arguing that to do so would trigger an international “supply chain disruption” resulting in delays and higher costs for the $100 million aircraft. https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2018/07/23/jim-mattis-warns-congress-not-to-block-turkey-from-f-35-program/

8 – 250718: Defense authorization bill bars delivery of F-35 to Turkey until US government submits an assessment of the US-Turkey relationship; requires an assessment of the operational and counterintelligence risks of S-400; and calls on Turkey to release detained US https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2018/07/23/hardware-end-strength-russia-and-china-sanctions-heres-the-deal-lawmakers-reached-on-the-huge-defense-policy-bill/

9 – 280718: On the periphery of the EU. Turkey, Ukraine advance An-188 short take-off and landing aircraft co-production talks https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/07/27/turkey-ukraine-advance-an-188-co-production-talks

UK


12 – 250718: UK's Navy's cut-price frigate contract runs aground because of 'lack of competition' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/07/24/navys-cut-price-frigate-contract-runs-aground-lack-competition/ via @telebusiness

REST of the world

Bahrain / Al-Bahrayn

13 – 290718: O.H Perry class guide weapons frigate sold to #Bahrain. With Italian Oto Melara 76 mm gun and fire control radar Mk.92 based on Thales Nederland systems. http://www.bahrainbiznews.com/story-z8250320

Brasil (see 23)
Canada (see 18)

China / Zhōngguó

14 – 250718: China is nowhere close to dislodging the US from the Middle East as the main arms supplier, but it is penetrating the region steadily, beginning with drones and other weapons that are not particularly sophisticated. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1343631

Egypt / Mişr (see 4)
India (see 4)
Libië / Lībīyah (see 17)
Qatar (see 4)

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 16)

Serbia / Srbija

15 – 280718: eKapija | Serbia sells 29 old tanks for over USD 540,000 https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/2205075/serbia-sells-29-old-tanks-for-over-usd-540000

South Africa

16 – 280718: South Africa's deadly involvement in the Saudi war on Yemen http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/south-africa-complicit-war-yemen-1495899269 via @MiddleEastEye

UAE / Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahidah

17 – 280718: UAE is also believed to be trying to establish its foothold in North Africa. In Libya by providing financial support to the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, in defiance of an internationally-recognized government in capital Tripoli. http://www.islamtimes.org/en/news/740659/uae-says-wants-bigger-military-role-in-middle-east

Ukraine / Ukrajina (see also 9)

18 – 250718: Huh? Canadian company wants to supply sniper rifles to Ukraine. "We are waiting for the signing of the permit to export the arms by Canadian government," MP James Bezan said. https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/520397.html It isn't fresh news, but aimed to raise pressure: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-arms-manufacturer-hopes-to-sell-assault-rifles-to-ukraine-military

Yemen / Al-Yaman (see also 16)

19 – 270718: U.S. allies have killed thousands of Yemeni civilians from the air. After 22 died at a wedding, one village asks, ‘Why us?’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-allies-have-killed-thousands-of-yemenis-from-the-air-after-22-died-at-a-wedding-one-village-asks-why-us/2018/07/25/3c3e4801-164e-42ae-ac08-bec09044e52a_story.html

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY

Fokker

20 – 230718: General Atomics concluded testing of the arresting hook for its proposed #MQ25 aerial refueling #drone for the US Navy. GA worked with GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit in Helmond, NL. #Fokker is slated to supply the arresting hook for the GA-ASI bid. http://www.ga.com/ga-asi-completes-testing-of-arresting-hook-and-hdd-for-mq-25

Thales (see also 13)

21 – 240718: Sea Sparrows (ESSM) to protect US amphibious landing capacity. (Dutch and others offsets) https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1580691/

WEAPENS

Drones (see 20)

F-35 (see also 7-8)

22 – 250718: Lockheed Martin: F-35 production on track won’t be overly exposed to cost pressures even as Congress mulls barring Turkey’s participation https://news.usni.org/2018/07/24/35291

Small Arms

23 – 250718: How to make the world an unsafer place for all. U.S. government ruling that allows 3D gun printing. The most of the 100.000 folowing downloads came from Spain, followed by the US, Brazil & Germany. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/07/20/making-guns-on-3d-printers-is-blow-against-gun-control.html

Submarines

24 – 270718: Warning to all planning to buy new submarines: The total price of the contract for the four Spanish subs, even without the expenses for new docking, has nearly doubled after the unexpected challenges to reach €3.9 billion ($4.5 billion). https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/07/26/whats-the-problem-with-spains-new-submarine/

OTHER

Defence budget (see 24)

Research and activism (see also 3)

25 – 250718: On July 17, the @DesignMuseum in London hosted an event held by Leonardo, one of the world's biggest arms companies. We currently have artwork in the @DesignMuseum's #HopeToNope exhibition. Today, alongside 24 other contributing artists we have demanded our art be taken returned https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jul/24/design-museum-challenged--arms-industry-event

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
Posted by at Geen opmerkingen:

dinsdag 24 juli 2018

Hidden parts of the Dutch arms export policy

Minister Sigrid Kaag and PM Mark Rutte at signing bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement.Source
During a visit of the Dutch prime minister to Washington the Netherlands and the United States reinforced their ties on military affairs on issues like cooperation on operations, materiel and acquisitions. The US is already the biggest customer of the Dutch arms industry, followed by EU/NATO+ and Germany. Cooperation agreements play a large role in this trade connection.

Great global powers are building all types of arms and complete systems at home. Regional powers and smaller industrialised countries such as the Netherlands have limited capacity to build domestically. Typically they produce subsystems and components. The Netherlands has a strongly developed policy to negotiate industrial orders in return when acquiring major weapons abroad. It is part of the Dutch Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). In the past this was called offset or compensation policy. Today it is called industrial participation. The European Commission (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-357_en.htm) is objecting this Dutch policy as it hinders the free EU arms market they pursue.

Although the biggest Dutch arms export licenses of 2017 are connected to the sale of naval vessels to Mexico and Pakistan, the eight largest licenses for parts have a value of € 200 million (see table 1). The description of almost half of the approximately 1.300 licenses in the Dutch 2017 reports on individual export licenses of military goods start with the words part or parts. Often the value of an individual license is not so high, but all licenses together amount to over a billion euro. Components are a considerable part of Dutch arms exports. In the annual report it is stated 72 per cent of all Dutch military exports concern components.

Tabel 1: Dutch export licenses for components in 2017 (€ 20 million or more)
date
Description
Country of destination
Country of final destination
Value (€)
1-9-2017
Parts for diverse aircraft and helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
30.000.000
23-3-2017
Parts for military transport aircraft
UK
UK
27.240.000
19-5-2017
Parts for transport aircraft
TURKEY
UK
27.240.000
18-4-2017
Parts for diverse aircraft and helicopter engines
US
US
27.000.000
17-2-2017
Parts for Tiger and NH90 helicopters and A400M freight aircraft
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
25.000.000
13-6-2017
Parts for air missiles and aircraft.
US
US
22.326.962
11-1-2017
Parts for F-16 fighter aircraft and diverse helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
20.000.000
21-12-2017
Parts for diverse types fighter aircraft and -helicopters
EU/NATO+
EU/NATO+
20.000.000
Total
198.806.962

Of those licenses, many are for naval systems produced by Thales Netherlands. In 2017 alone, the list of destinations receiving Thales radar or command and control equipment includes Algeria, Argentine, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE and US. The sales to Egypt were discussed in a courtroom in 2016-2017, because Egypt is using naval vessels to blockade Yemen. But according to the minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok during a debate in the Dutch Parliament, the vessels are not only used for that, but also for the security of the Egyptian State.

There are two major transparency issues with components. One is that many sales are reported in an unclear way. Exported parts can be for aircraft and helicopters, transport planes, engines for helicopters and planes, tanks, armoured vehicles, for missiles and even for aircraft carrier tailhooks (see table Dutch produced arms exports of components/parts (2017). It is hard to get an real overview. The level of information on the exports runs from non-information like 'global license', to the the very general 'parts for aircraft', or 'parts for fighter aircraft'. Information only makes sense when more specific. 'Parts for aircraft' could as well be for Eurofighters sold to Saudi Arabia and used to bomb Yemen. Search radar is something different than radar for fire control. A small patrol vessels without weapon mountings is another kind of export than a patrol vessel with automatic guns.

The second issue is the lack of detail on destination. EU/NATO+ is only superficially a homogeneous category. It includes countries as different as the UK, Poland, Turkey, Japan, and the US. Even inside Belgium there is controversy between Flanders and Wallonia on what is an acceptable export destination. European arms export policy is based on a Common Position, but also based on interests and interpretations rooting in centuries of sovereign foreign, economic and defence policies. NATO+ countries which are outside the EU have even more room to follow policies to their own liking and interests.

Table 2: Value reported realizations of definitive export of military products in 2017 under General License NL009 (F-35 Lightning II)
Country of destination
Value (€)
Canada
190,000
Italy
6,590,000
Japan
190,000
Turkey
160,000
UK
1,860,000
US
88,900,000
Total
97,800,000
Source: Table 8, Annual arms export report 2017, in Dutch, page 31.

Map with F-16 operators in bluewith former operators in red. Wikipedia.
Slovakia in July 2018 the latest new customer not yet included.
For arms component control the devil is in the detail. A non-Dutch company assembling Dutch military components into a bigger weapon system may export to destinations which are controversial for the Netherlands. For example: F-16's with Dutch components have been sold to countries on all continents (see wiki map). Some of them notorious human rights violators. Others involved in conflicts. For the US however, arms export policy is American foreign policy and - under president Trump more than ever - driven by American economic interests. The same will become true for F-35 components exports. Dutch parts will be hardy be recognised or even invisible below the stealth body. The Dutch government provides an overview of countries receiving F-35 components under a General License (see table 2), but it is not clear who the end user will be.

Licensed exports of components runs from parts for fighter and transport aircraft, attack and naval helicopters, aircraft engines, to vehicles, simulation and optical equipment. Components of drones go to the US and India. Components for Airbus A400M transport planes are sold to Turkey (see table 3). Ankara also buys parts for the T-625 transport helicopter produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Transport planes and heli's are used to fly troops and equipment where needed; considering the conflict with the Kurds the Dutch government would never allow the export of complete systems. For Turkey this air transport capacity is critical for internal and foreign military deployment.

The Netherlands exports parts for Typhoon fighters (also named EFA/Eurofighter). The Eurofighter is assembled by companies in four different countries and exported to the Gulf region, included Riyadh. The Saudi's are also buying Sea Sparrow missiles (in the Dutch licenses also listed as ESSM or anti-air missiles). It is impossible to distill this from the Dutch arms export records, because all ESSM exports are going to the US. But we know they do not stay there.

The reason for the temporarily import of Hawk trainer aircraft parts from the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands and back again to the Emirates, reported in the 2017 overview, is unclear. It is not a major deal (4 x € 54.000), but the Gulf states depend on trainers for their air operations against Yemen, according to Defense News of February 2018. The producer of the Hawk trainer, British Aerospace Systems (BAES) established an repair and overhaul facility in the UAE in 2017. But even if the advanced trainers are not directly involved in the conflict, the planes are used to train the fighter pilots creating suffering and havoc for the people of Yemen.

It is not the size of the individual licenses for components (although some have a large value), but the enormity which makes the issue of components important. The export mainly follows negotiations during the acquisition of large systems which guarantees a Dutch role in the production of major weapon systems. Reporting of component export should at least provide insight in for what specific weapons systems the components are sold. Reporting should not mention naval vessels, but SIGMA 10514; not C3, but fire control radar, not aircraft but C-130 or F-16, not missile but ESSM etc. Moreover, the Netherlands should not only negotiate sales, but also public access to information on the final destination of major weapon systems with Dutch components. It makes a huge difference if this destination is Belgium or Bahrain.

Written for Stop Wapenhandel

MB July 23 2018
Posted by at Geen opmerkingen:

zondag 22 juli 2018

Week 29 in #wapenhandel25tweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.
Please like or share if it is helpful or interesting for you.)


Netherlands / Nederland (see 20)

See tweet 2
1 – 170718: Dutch plan to sign #Reaper drone deal next week. #Fokker in Helmond, Netherlands already produces parts for them. https://www.reuters.com/article/dutch-drones/update-1-dutch-plan-to-sign-reaper-drone-deal-next-week-sources-idUSL8N1U95BY

2 – 170718: Het eerste contract in de NAG stand op Farnborough 2018 is getekend: AMBER - Affordable Multi Beam Radar. TNO, GKN Aerospace, Boeing, min EZK/CMP (by Twitter)

See tweet 3.
3 – 180718: Boeing and Netherlands sign agreement for attack en transport helicopter sustainment https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/farnborough/2018/07/17/boeing-and-netherlands-sign-agreement-for-helicopter-sustainment/

4 – 190718: New Dutch government transit spreadsheet. In June some ammo from Brazil to Germany and South-African fuzes for Switzerland, the rest almost all sports and hunter rifles. Nothing I really worry about. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-doorvoer-militaire-goederen

EUROPE

Belgium / België

5 – 190718: French offsets for Wallonian (Belgium) FN Herstal, CMI and Thales Hasselt for acquisition of armoured vehicles, valued at € 1.1 billion. [in Dutch] http://www.knack.be/s/r/c/1175079 via @knack

Finland / Suomi

Germany / Deutchland (see 4, 30)

6 – 220718: Study: German banks finance the war in Yemen [in German] Studie: Deutsche Banken finanzieren den Krieg im Jemen http://www.badische-zeitung.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/studie-deutsche-banken-finanzieren-den-krieg-im-jemen-mit via @badischezeitung

Spain / España

7 – 170718: Spanish Navantia supports blockade of Yemen with 5 new corvettes (value € 1.8bn). | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/81783/navantia-deal-creates-saudi-joint-venture#.W04sUiR9Vso.twitter

Sweden / Sverige

8 – 170718: Indian BEL and Swedish Saab collaborate on RAWL-03 L-band 3D air surveillance radar system | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/81787/bel-and-saab-collaborate-on-radars#.W04sClUiDB4.twitter

Switzerland / Suisse (see 4)

Turkey / Türkiye

9 – 160718: Past, present and future defence industrial cooperation between Turkey and UK: Turkish Defence and Aerospace industry accomplished exports of $64.069,24 Million to the United Kingdom in 2016, and $48.538,51 Million in 2017 (a 24% decrease). http://www.defenceturkey.com/en/content/past-and-present-cooperation-within-the-defence-industry-between-turkey-and-the-united-kingdom-3094#.W0xcmx_26vg.twitter

10 – 170718: Next step in Turkish Air Defence Soap. Featuring: Recep, Vladimir and Donald. http://gulftoday.ae  | US in talks with Turkey to sell Patriot system http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/a61992bb-9160-407e-bf68-5a2610c739b3.aspx

11 – 170718: Turkey acquits top journalist in reporting on 'covert arms trafficking' case http://bit.ly/2NXf2Vl via @dailystarleb

12 – 190718: Turkey Protests US Effort to Block Sale of F-35 Fighters https://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-protesting-us-effort-to-block-sale-of-f-35-fighters/4487967.html

UK (see also 9, 23, 26)

13 – 170718: UK almost doubles arms sales to countries on governments list of human rights abusers, figures reveal https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-arms-sales-double-human-rights-abusers-china-saudi-arabia-israel-yemen-a8452101.html

NATO/US (see also 10)

14 – 170718: De VS verdient dik aan de NAVO, schrijft Henk Witte https://joop.bnnvara.nl/opinies/de-vs-verdient-dik-aan-de-navo

15 – 170718: Why is President Trump asking Canada and Europe to spend more money on the military? Is it to further enrich the pockets of his plutocrat military industrial friends? http://www.thesudburystar.com/2018/07/16/letter-we-should-denuclearize-not-spend

16 – 170718: An unfortunate record to break: US has already sold more weapons this year than all 2017: $47B. https://breakingdefense.com/2018/07/the-u-s-has-already-sold-more-weapons-this-year-than-all-of-2017/

17 – 170718: In any case it is not to create jobs for the unemployed. Military Spending Is Up, but Aerospace and Defense Workers Are Scarce. No it creates competition with other jobs. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/16/us/military-aerospace-defense-workers.html

REST of the world

Australia

18 – 200718: Australia calls for greater powers to control defence exports | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/81854/australia-calls-for-greater-powers-to-control-defence-exports#.W1GVnEL5f-o.twitter

Brasil (see also 4)

19 – 210718: Ukrainian state firm Ukrinmash details design bid for Brazilian corvette competition. It is is proposing the Thales Nederland TACTICOS series combat management system (CMS) for the corvette. | Jane's 360 http://www.janes.com/article/81897/ukrainian-state-firm-ukrinmash-details-design-bid-for-brazilian-corvette-competition#.W1OLAYkWPyE.twitter

Canada (see 25)
China / Zhōngguó (see 21)
India (see 8, 23)
Russia / Rossija (see 10)

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 7)

20 – 190718: Lockheed Martin wins $450M contract to support construction of Saudi Arabia's four $11.25bn surface ships http://www.defenseworld.net/news/22955#.W1B2ZdIzbg8 For the Netherlands see also: https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2016/01/dutch-missile-technology-to-saudi-arabia.html

South Africa (see 4)

Taiwan / Táiwān

21 – 170718: Taiwan's Apache fleet goes into service amid China tensions http://toi.in/4CK-Jb/a24gk  via @TOIWorld https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/taiwans-apache-fleet-goes-into-service-amid-china-tensions/articleshow/65021275.cms

Ukraine / Ukrajina (see 19)
Yemen / Al-Yaman (see 6, 7)

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY
Damen (see 25)

Fokker (see 1, 2)

22 – 190718: Second NH90 Sea Lion prototype helicopter begins qualification phase #Fokker https://www.naval-technology.com/news/second-nh90-sea-lion-prototype-helicopter-begins-qualification-phase/ via @DefenceTech_Mag

23 – 220718: GKN Fokker Elmo and State of Maharashtra (India) signed a MoU for investment in a 2nd manufacturing facility for wiring systems in India. It will operate alongside a existing Joint Venture in Bangalore serving the defence market. https://www.aero-mag.com/gkn-aerospace-establishes-new-wiring-facility-india/

Thales (see also 19)


25 – 220718: Bids to be submitted today for the (between $55 billion and $60 bn program) Canadian Surface Combatant – the countdown begins. Dutch shipbuilder Damen, Lockheed Martin, SAAB, Navantia all compete for the 15 ship order. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/bids-to-be-submitted-today-for-canadian-surface-combatant-the-countdown-begins

WEAPENS

Arms fairs

26 – 170718: Farnborough guest list was just published: includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Turkey...some of the world's worst regimes for human rights abuses, meeting with the world's biggest weapons makers. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/farnborough-international-airshow-2018

Drones (see 1)

F-35 (see also 12)

27 – 170718: Most European governments prefer to strengthen the US military aeronautic industry. Not the European. Isn't it? What waits in the wings for Europe’s next, next-gen fighter? https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/farnborough/2018/07/10/what-waits-in-the-wings-for-europes-next-next-gen-fighter/

Speciale Forces

28 – 170718: The advantage of SOF ops. Knowbody knows, not those controlling the Government. Special Operations Forces Continue to Expand Across the World—Without Congressional Oversight via @thenation https://www.thenation.com/article/special-operations-forces-continue-expand-across-world-without-congressional-oversight/

OTHER

Defence budget (see 14-15)

Research and activism (see also 6)

29 – 170718: How to block an entrance to get Lockheed Martin out of a university program. https://www.wri-irg.org/en/story/2018/lockout-lockheed-melbourne-students-take-direct-action-against-university-contract

30 – 190718: Military research everywhere and malaria still killing 500.000 people annually. Germany Defence and Interior ministry officials push for creation of a new agency this year that will study disruptive technologies relevant to Germany’s defense and security. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/07/18/germany-wants-its-own-version-of-darpa-and-within-the-year/

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
Posted by at Geen opmerkingen:

zondag 15 juli 2018

Week 28 in #wapenhandel25tweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.
Please like or share if it is helpful or interesting for you.)

 
Dutch public TV news ignored it. Had only much smaller actions in Scotland. 

Netherlands / Nederland (see 27, 28)

1 – 120718: The submarine and the card game of the naval industry. http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/07/de-onderzeeboot-en-het-kwartetten-van.html Written for Dutch peace magazine http://vredesmagazine.nl/ 

2 – 120718: Dutch role in Host Nation Support #HNS in Rotterdam [ in Dutch, whith ill.] #Endurance https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2018/07/04_host-nation-support
NATO (see also 2, 18)
3 – 090718: The US doesn't spend on NATO, but spends on military capabilities defending its own economic and geopolitical interests in Asia, Africa and even in Europe. The core of Europe can choose a different path for itself. https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nato-priorities/2018/07/09/trump-rips-nato-ahead-of-summit/

4 – 120718: Giving reason to NATO: Trump risks 'destruction of US-China trade, damaging https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2154796/donald-trumps-latest-tariffs-risk-destroying-trade  via @SCMPNews
world economy' and what follows?

5 – 130718: Exactly: With NATO defence buildup, US weapons makers could benefit. https://www.arabherald.com/news/257659077/with-nato-defense-buildup-us-weapons-makers-could-benefit

EUROPE (see 33)

Belgium / België (see 33)

France (see 13)

6 – 100718: Helpful for whom? France plans to set up its own version of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program under which it will offer weapons in the international market on country-to-country basis. http://www.defenseworld.net/news/22881/France_to_Set_up_Foreign_Military_Sales__FMS__program


8 – 110718: A policy proposal in major French daily to strengthen the French arms industry by connecting it to civil technology and more cooperation on European level [ in French] http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2018/07/10/20005-20180710ARTFIG00335-l-industrie-de-defense-doit-se-connecter-au-monde-civil.php

9 – 130718: France won’t supply weapons which could be used against Artsakh, says Ambassador https://armenpress.am/eng/news/940627/

Germany / Deutchland (see 14, 25)

10 – 100718: The two Lürssen patrol vessels prepared for shipment to Saudi Arabia. [Pay wall, in German] Die beiden Boote wurden jetzt nach Augenzeugenberichten im Fährhafen Sassnitz verladen und für den Transport vorbereitet. https://www.thb.info/suche.html?q=Saudi


11 – 100718: Bayern bei Waffenexporten Spitzenreiter - Linke fordern Stopp des Exportbooms https://www.pnp.de/nachrichten/politik/3000015_Bayern-bei-Waffenexporten-Spitzenreiter-Linke-fordern-Stopp-des-Exportbooms.html

Ireland / Éire


12 – 130718: Ireland will participate in EU’s new defence research programme out of pragmatism, according to Ireland’s chief science adviser. https://sciencebusiness.net/news/ireland-pragmatic-about-need-eu-defence-research-says-chief-science-adviser

Italy / Italia

13 – 140718: Governments receive plans for industrial tie-up between Fincantieri, Naval Group https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/07/12/governments-receive-plans-for-industrial-tie-up-between-fincantieri-naval-group/

Norway / Norge


Slovakia / Slovensko

15 – 120718: Still sold to new customers: Slovakia selects F-16 over Gripen for new fighter

Romania / România

16 – 130718: Romanian arms companies sold weapons worth € 192.8min 2017, a record. Data from the Export Control Department -- ANCEX -- within Foreign Affairs show sales in 2017 increased 7% compared with 2016 (when € 180.8m was earned). [In Romanian] https://adevarul.ro/news/eveniment/vanzari-record-arme-romanesti-tipuri-armament-exportat-2017-le-a-cumparat-1_5b33a803df52022f7596a462/index.html

Sweden / Sverige (see 15, 19)

Turkey / Türkiye

17 – 140718: US Congress often takes a haphazard approach to foreign policy, but to deny F-35s to Turkey is the right move. Continuing to deliver America’s most advanced fighters to Ankara will do greater harm than good to US interests. https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/07/cancel-turkeys-f-35s-and-maybe-its-nato-membership-well/149684/

UK (see also 24, 28)

18 – 100718: As the Nato summit begins, May must ignore pleas for more military spending – here’s why https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/nato-theresa-may-donald-trump-gavin-williamson-defence-spending-a8440736.html

REST of the world

Armenia / Hayastan (see 9)
Azerbaijan / Azərbaycan (see 9)

Botswana

19 – 110718: #Botswana, advice for free: If you can't pay, don't loan, don't pay. Pay for something more needed than fighter aircraft. #Gripen http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52314:no-progress-on-gripens-for-botswana

Canada

20 – 120718: Daniel Turp is a law professor at Université de Montréal. For the last three years he has fought a protracted and seemingly quixotic legal battle against the Canadian federal government to hold it accountable for selling weapons to a murderous regime. https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/martin-patriquin-canada-saudi-arabia-and-daniel-turps-heroic-crusade

China / Zhōngguó (see 4, 30)

Japan / Nihon-koku (zie 29)

Russia / Rossija (zie 30)

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 7, 10, 20)

21 – 110718: A senior US diplomat is meeting with Saudi Arabian officials to discuss defense trade issues, the State Department said in a press release. https://translations.state.gov/?p=21403

22 – 130718: Riyadh seeks partners for local defence manufacturing. There is an increase in joint ventures between foreign defence contractors and their Saudi counterparts. | MEED https://www.meed.com/saudi-arabia-defence-contractors-local-manufacturing/

South Sudan

23 – 110718: The UN Security Council is expected to vote this week on imposing an arms embargo against South Sudan, a US proposal which follows a power-sharing agreement between warring leaders. http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/UN-to-take-up-South-Sudan-arms-embargo-/4552908-4657112-kdtw63z/index.html via @The_EastAfrican

Sri Lanka

24 – 140718: British MPs launch motion on ending arms sales to Sri Lanka https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/british-mps-launch-motion-ending-arms-sales-sri-lanka

Yemen / Al-Yaman

25 – 140718: Yemen war and Germany's contribution; all parties use German small arms, despite the Government banned its exports. How can that be? [in German]
Jemens Krieg und Deutschlands Beitrag https://www.zeit.de/2018/29/waffenexporte-bundesregierung-jemen-krieg via @zeitonline

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY

Airbus

26 – 120718: Airbus CEO Tom Enders on Airbus, past, present and future. http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/airbus-ceo-tom-enders-duopoly-can-be-disrupted via @aviationweek

Damen

27 – 110718: Bollinger delivers 29th fast response cutter to US Coast Guard, armed with 1 Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm autocannon and 4 crew-http://www.bollingershipyards.com/blog/bollinger-delivers-the-29th-fast-response-cutter-to-the-u-s-coast-guard
served Browning M2 machine guns. The design based on the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708.

Fokker

28 – 100718: On GKN - supplier for almost all aeronautic companies, civil and military - and its Dutch branch Fokker. [in Dutch] https://www.telegraaf.nl/financieel/2280235/expansie-in-azie-voor-gkn-aerospace

WEAPENS

F-35 (see also 17)

29 – 120718: While there’s little prospect that #Japanese consumers will ever buy enough American cars to please Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe government’s record spending on defense is shaping up as a bright spot in bilateral trade for the US president. #F35 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/11/national/japan-snubs-homegrown-weaponry-buy-u-s-putting-domestic-industry-threat/

Robot weapons / AI

30 – 130718: #Russia and the #US are moving closer to opening their own centers for military-related research into artificial intelligence #AI, as #China did in the spring of last year. But the three governments have differing approaches. https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/07/china-russia-and-us-are-all-building-centers-military-ai/149643/ via @defenseone

Small Arms

31 – 130718: US exporters of sporting ammunition will be able to ship to 34 countries without a license. That’s bad news. https://orchidadvisors.com/export-control-reform-ammunition-industry/

Submarines (see 1)

OTHER

Corruption

32 – 110718: This paper examines the link between political finance & corruption in arms trade. It draws on World Peace Foundation’s Compendium of Arms Trade Corruption, a collection of 29 cases of corruption in the arms trade andmilitary sector from around the world. https://sites.tufts.edu/wpf/arms-trade-corruption-and-political-finance/

Defence budget (see 18)

Research and activism (see 12,

33 – 090718: After a complaint by Vredesactie with the @EUombudsman, the European Defence Agency improves its transparency procedures. https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/decision.faces/en/98631/html.bookmark

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
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