Week 43 in #wapenhandel25tweets

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The criticism on selling arms to Saudi Arabia never was so strong, not only in the EU, but also in Australia, Canada and in the US Congress. But who brings together all the scattered voices and joins them against the UK, French and industry (in all member states) forces which want to exclude an arms embargo on the Saudi dictatorship, because reasons of gain, profit and political affiliation. (See under the tag 'Saudi Arabia' for a selected list of national positions.)

Netherlands / Nederland (see 8)

1 – 261018: Dutch Fokker produces components for Reaper killer drones. https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/10/reaper-drones-dutch-air-force-and-fokker.html

2 – 23-241018: Dutch petition to Stop Arms Trade with KSA asks to implement a full arms embargo and aiming for an EU embargo. 

Teken ook voor een stop op wapenhandel met Saoedi-Arabië! Het regime schendt mensenrechten. Nederland moet stoppen met wapenhandel en moet het voortouw nemen tot een Europese stop. Teken! https://actie.degoedezaak.org/petitions/wapenembargo-tegen-saoedi-arabie

3 – 23(24)1018: Dutch government publishes factsheets on the export of crypto technology (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/brochures/2018/10/23/factsheet-cryptografie/20181023+Factsheet+Cryptografie.pdf) and

Cybersecurity technology (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/brochures/2018/10/23/factsheet-cybersecurity-export/20181023+Factsheet+cybersecurity+export.pdf). [in Dutch]

4 – 261018: Adoption of new EU legislation and recent Dutch Belgium cases in the fight against chemical weapons http://www.worldtradecontrols.com/adoption-of-new-eu-legislation-and-recent-national-cases-in-the-fight-against-chemical-weapons/

EUROPE (see 4, 12-13, 30)

Austria / Österreich (see 15)

Belgium / België (see also 4, 27, 38)

5 – 261018: Atlantic ties over EU industrial cooperation. Airbus accepts the decision by Belgium to acquire the F-35 and is aware of the strong links with the US on defence industrial matters. Therefore, yesterday’s decision does not come as a complete surprise. https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/10/a-lost-opportunity-for-european-defence-.html

Czech Rep. / Česko (see 16)

France (see also 17)

6 – 251018: Defying reports that their planned partnership is doomed to fail, France’s Naval Group and Italy’s Fincantieri have announced a joint venture to build and export naval vessels. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/euronaval/2018/10/24/naval-group-fincantieri-join-forces-to-survive-competitive-global-shipbuilding-industry/

Germany / Deutchland (see 17, 18, 19)

Greece / Ellas

7 – 231018: A prominent Greek socialist ex-minister was jailed for graft late Tuesday in a 2003 case linked to a navy frigate upgrade, a court source said. AFP news http://www.spacewar.com/afp/181024080556.drfa8ij8.html

8 – 261018: Greek arms-corruption scandal expands. Former Defence Minister Papantoniou and his wife were remanded in preventive prison for their alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme linked to arms sales during the Socialist government rule from 1996-2010.

Greek arms-corruption scandal. Minister profitted from a 2003 naval defence contract to upgrade six Greek Navy Type S frigates (bought in the Netherlands), signed between Greek Shipyards and @thalesnederland Nederland BV.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/former-greek-defence-minister-wife-imprisoned-118102401162_1.html

Italy / Italia (see also 6)

9 – 251018: When Italy invests in infrastructure and welfare programs it is critised in the EU because of budget considerations. But at the same time this cut on Defence will also meet sharp critique. Italy will cut €450 million (US $512.3m) from its planned defense spending in 2019. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/24/italy-plans-to-slash-half-a-billion-dollars-from-defense-in-2019/

Romania / România

10 – 231018: Romania set to choose four new corvettes, frigate upgrade | Jane's 360 https://www.janes.com/article/83937/romania-set-to-choose-four-new-corvettes-frigate-upgrade#.W89FBsA-IdU.twitter

Spain / España (see 21-23)

Sweden / Sverige (see 24)

Switzerland / Suisse (see 23)

Turkey / Türkiye (see 17)

UK (see 20, 25)

REST of the world

Australia (see 14)

Bahamas (see 36)

Indonesia (see 32-33)

Lybia / Lībīyah (see 35)

New Zealand

11 – 241018: Blockade the arms trade: Peace groups gear up for defence industry forum protest, via @nzherald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/horowhenua-chronicle/news/article.cfm

Qatar (see 28)

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 2, 31)

Europe

12 – 241018: EU’s arms trade with Saudi's. 2013-2017 figures of SIPRI show UK 48.8% of arms exports go to KSA, Belgium 32%, Sweden 12.8, Slovakia: 11.8, Spain 8.3, Austria 7.7, Italy 6.3, Finland 5.8, France 5.5, Bulgaria 5.4, Germany 3.1 and the Netherlands 2.4. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/eu-s-arms-trade-with-saudi-arabia-comes-under-scrutiny/1291960

13 – 251018: Overview on EU member states positions on arms embargo on Saudi Arabia. Rising scruples in European countries over Saudi arms sales https://apnews.com/68a744c375ba4c2e80089fa31f21135e

Australia

14 – 241018: Don't let them of the hook after all those years. Even Australia may impose Saudi arms sales ban. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-may-impose-saudi-arms-sales-ban

Austria

15 – 271018: Austria has called on EU member states on Friday to stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-khashoggi-austria/austria-calls-for-eu-wide-halt-in-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-idUSKCN1MZ34T

Czech

16 – 271018: Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek did Friday not rule out a debate on a ban of arms exports to Saudi Arabia. "We should talk about arms exports." CTK National News Wire, 26/10/18

France

17 – 281018: Merkel and Emmanuel Macron call for a 'co-ordinated' European position on selling arms to Saudi Arabia in a summit with Putin and Erdogan after Jamal Khashoggi's murder https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6323509/Turkeys-President-Erdogan-hosts-Vladimir-Putin-Angela-Merkel-Emmanuel-Macron.html

Germany

17 – 261018: Germany puts Saudi border police training on hold Berlin German police are no longer training Saudi border guards as of the beginning of October, the Interior Ministry in Berlin announced on Thursday. Deutche Presse Agentur, 25/10/18

18 – 241018: German halt to Saudi arms sales could put squeeze on Eurofighter #EFA. Until now EFA exports to the Middle East were always regarded as a UK responsibility despite it is a multinational product. So if this will change? Needs a load of pressure. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-khashoggi-germany-analysis/german-halt-to-saudi-arms-sales-could-put-squeeze-on-eurofighter

19 – 231018: Affaire Khashoggi: the «Davos of the desert» opens in a poisonous atmosphere. [in French] https://theworldnews.net/fr-news/affaire-khashoggi-le-davos-du-desert-debute-dans-un-climat-deletere Joe Kaeser CEO of Siemens, with 2,000 employees in KSA and main sponsor of the event isn't going. Here his diplomatic explanation: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/decision-make-what-really-matters-joe-kaeser/

Scotland

20 – 251018: SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked May to follow Merkel's lead and "commit to ending the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia". May has refused to stop British firms selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. http://www.thenational.scot/news/17005379.theresa-may-not-ending-sales-to-saudi-arabia-despite-khashoggi-murder/

Spain

21 – 241018: Socialist view on solidarity inside national borders? The proposal by the so-called mixed group includes deputies from smaller parties was defeated by votes from the ruling Socialists and the opposition People’s Party in a session Tuesday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-23/spanish-deputies-reject-proposal-to-stop-saudi-arabia-arms-sales via @bpolitics

22 – 241018: Bitter cocktail of bribes and arms sales to KSA. Spanish High Court probes 23 years of bribery in arms sales to Saudi Arabia https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/10/24/inenglish/1540364892_173612.html via @elpaisinenglish

23 – 271018: CORRUPTION: Switzerland froze four bank accounts over probe into Spanish arms sale to Saudi Arabia. https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/10/25/inenglish/1540458976_912394.html

Sweden

24 – 231018: Swedish Greens deputy @LinneaEngstrom calls for EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia. https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/swedish-greens-deputy-linn%C3%A9a-engstr%C3%B6m-calls-eu-arms-embargo-against-saudi-arabia

UK

25 – 241018: #Saudi arms deals worth billions likely to stay in place. "Only 6% of people in the UK support these arms sales and we don't have any reason to believe that public opinion anywhere else in Europe is any less sceptical," Adrew Smith #CAAT said https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-24/lucrative-saudi-arms-deals-under-scrutiny-over-jamal-khashoggi/10422200 via @ABCNews

US

26 – 251018: The US admin defends engagement in Yemen by overstating Iranian support for the Houthis. But the fact is that the relationship between Iran and the Houthis has only strengthened with the intensification of the war And more on the dirty War in Washington.

Feel the Bern: I very much hope that Congress will act, that we will finally take seriously our congressional duty, end our support for the carnage in Yemen, and send the message that human lives are worth more than profits for arms manufacturers. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/opinion/bernie-sanders-saudi-arabia-war-yemen.html

26 – 231018: The little-known 11th Commandment, says, ''On the other hand, thou shalt excuse stuff like killing and bearing false witness if weapons deals are at stake.'' https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/opinion/khashoggi-saudi-trump-arms-sales.html

Wallonia

27 – 231018: Wallonië trekt staart in: wapenverkoop gaat door Wallonia waits for Europe to end arms exports to Riyadh. https://www.hln.be/de-krant/wallonie-trekt-staart-in-wapenverkoop-gaat-door~a2cab510/

Other

28 – 231018: Apart from the needless military intervention in Yemen, let's not forget the blockade of Qatar, which started more than a year ago. And Lebanese PM Hariri, who announced his resignation last November in a Saudi hotel, speculation arose he was abducted. https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-no-weapons-for-riyadh-right-for-the-wrong-reason/a-45991937?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-rdf

Somalia / Soomaaliya

29 – 281018: OIC meeting in Mogadishu to reinforce end for arms embargo via @goobjoognews http://goobjoog.com/english/oic-meeting-in-mogadishu-to-reinforce-end-for-arms-embargo/

South Sudan

30 – 241018: The European Union has slightly relaxed its arms embargo on South Sudan by agreeing to allow the government purchase arms and related materials that are solely in support of the implementation of the terms of the peace agreement. http://www.eyeradio.org/eu-softens-arms-embargo-s-sudan/

Yemen / Al-Yaman

31 – 251018: In the meantime. Saudi-led airstrike kills 21 civilians near Yemeni city http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/144079 via @Qatar_Tribune

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY

Airbus (see 5)

Damen (see also 10, 41)

32 – 231018: Damen sold naval vessels to Jakarta, but dismissed Indonesian sales agent because of corruption. [in Dutch] Tempo doeloe: Damen stuurde tussenagent Indonesië weg om vermoedens corruptie. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/10/22/vlissingen-eet-nu-eenmaal-van-damen-a2752330

33 – 231018: The Damen corvette of the period 2004-09 wasn't about establishing naval industrial relations with Indonesia. It was the continuation of a policy which started in 1974 delivering warships to the Suharto regime. Overview [Dutch]: http://www.stopwapenhandel.org/sites/stopwapenhandel.org/files/imported/publicaties/boekenbrochures/Brochure_Oorlogsschepen.pdf and http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2017/12/damen-een-overzicht-deel-3-korvetten-en.html

34 – 231018: Vendors of Damen - the main sponsor of Sail Amsterdam 2020 - make suspicious payments worldwide - Curaçao Chronicle http://curacaochronicle.com/local/vendors-of-shipbuilder-damen-make-suspicious-payments-worldwide/ via @CuraChronicle

35 – 261018: Part 3 of 4 on Dutch civil/military shipwharf conflomerate Damen and the potential reasons for the raid by the Dutch tax authorities few years ago. This 3rd on the role of Damen vessels in the refugees hunt of the coast of Libya. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/10/26/gaddafi-verdween-damen-bleef-geliefd-a2752912

36 – 281018: HMBS Bahamas (P-60) is expected to dock in the Bahamas at the end of October after undergoing a modernisation process at the Maaskant Shipyard, operated by Damen Shipyards, in the Netherlands. https://www.janes.com/article/84094/bahamas-to-receive-modernised-vessel-from-damen

Fokker (see 1)

Thales (see 8)

WEAPENS

Drones (see 1)

F-35 (see also 5)

37 – 241018: Lockheed Martin 3rd-quarter profit. Net income rose to $1.47 billion, helped by F-35 and lower tax rate. https://www.business-standard.com/article/reuters/lockheed-martin-third-quarter-profit-beats-helped-by-f-35-lower-tax-rate-118102301403_1.html

38 – 241018: Brussels makes a choice for Washington DC (or Bethesda, Lockheed HQ). [in Dutch] Regering kiest voor Amerikaanse F-35 http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20181025_03871711 via @destandaard

39 – 261018: And here it's again the most expensive arms program ever: Some F-35s grounded again for new round of inspections https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2018/10/25/some-f-35s-grounded-again-for-new-round-of-inspections/

Nukes

40 – 241018: Frank Miller, senior director for defence policy and arms control for President George W. Bush’s NSC: “if the Russians don’t see us as reliable partners in arms control agreements and think they are likely to be surprised by us, as ...” read further at: https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/10/23/one-nuclear-treaty-is-dead-is-new-start-next/

Observation technology (IT) (see 3)

Submarines

41 – 241018: Euronaval 2018: Saab and Damen join forces for Dutch Walrus-class submarine replacement: to enhance domestic submarine competence (doesn't sound solid) and in the hope to find space on the overcrowded submarine export market. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2018/euronaval-2018/6609-euronaval-2018-saab-and-damen-join-forces-for-dutch-walrus-class-submarine-replacement.html

OTHER

Corruption and fraud (see 7-8, 32, 34)

Defence budget (see 9)

Refugees (see 35)

Research and activism (see 2, 11)

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

Reaper drones, the Dutch air force and Fokker

Drone wars cartoon slideshow: https://dronewars.net/no-laughing-matter/

(Nederlandse versie)

The Dutch air force is in the process of acquiring four General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones with ground stations at a cost of € 187 million. Anticipated deployment includes gathering intelligence during interventions/humanitarian operations and the support of civilian authorities.

Dutch GKN Fokker is rewarded for the Dutch acquisition with participation in the production of the Reapers. Which makes the components covertly part of all Reaper drones exports. Considering the fast growing popularity of the drone and the erosion of the US arms export policy this might evolve into a deadly but profitable business.

Killing machine

Armed drones have been around for a long time already, but the use accelerated in the last twenty years. The first modern drone attacks took place in the beginning of this century, for example the well documented 2002 drone attack in Yemen, a country the US wasn't even at war with. This strike was called “execution without trial,” and was the start of the kill don't capture doctrine, according to philosopher Mary Calhoun (in: We kill because we can; London: Zed books, 2016). Medea Benjamin of Code Pink underlined this critical position in Drone Warfare (London, New York: Verso, 2013) by citing a former counterinsurgency adviser to top general Petreus. This Lt Colonel John Nagel described the kill don't capture campaign as “an almost industrial-scale counterterrorism killing machine.”

The Reaper

The Reaper is developed by General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and one of the larger types of drones. It can be armed with four Hellfire-missiles and with guided bombs such as the GBU-12 Paveway II en GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Camera's are fitted, able to read e.g. signs of cars. The drone has become famous and notorious by the elimination of terrorists and the killing of civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

The MQ-9 Reaper originated from the Predator drone, but has another tail and is bigger. It is called Reaper for a reason: although it is fitted with the same surveillance equipment as the Predator it is much more of a hunter-killer design. Some have called it the first fielded Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV),” or expressed differently: “the primary offensive strike drone for the United States military.”

Unarmed at the battle field

Reaper drones are used by a number of countries (see table), armed or unarmed. The drones are helpful tools during natural disasters, like floods, forest fires and hurricanes. Predator and Reaper drone are also used by the US to control its border with Canada and Mexico to control the movements of people (migrants, refugees).

The Netherlands version is “not armed, yet,” as a Dutch newspaper wrote, understanding the self propelling dynamcis of arms acquistions driven by the invisible hand of the Ministry of Defence, and helped by the right to center parties VVD and CDA, who are in favour of fitting missiles to the Reapers. They will be used for Intelligence gathering, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (getting information about enemy forces or positions) together abbreviated as ISR. ISR is a central part of modern warfare and drones like the Reaper fit into this development. In his book Kill Chain (London, New York: Verso, 2015) Andrew Cockburn describes in detail how the position of a SIM-card was picked up by a drone and the owner killed. Unfortunately this was not the terrorist the US Special Forces thought it was, but a campaigner for a candidate in the Afghan parliamentary elections, who was killed because he had the wrong GSM in his hands.

Fokker and drones

https://static.thisdayinaviation.com/.../2018/03/090716-F-1234K-007.jpg

Dutch Fokker has a long history connected to the idea of drones. Today's remotely piloted aircraft like Predator and Reaper exist “because of research and development done in the late 1930s.” The pioneers used in 1937 a Fokker C-14B. Nowadays two Fokker divisions (part of Fokker/GKN) are involved in producing Reaper parts. Fokker in Hoogeveen is participating since 2016 in production and sustainment of Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper landing gear subsystems. Fokker Helmond produces the landing gear systems for the Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper drones. Fokker delivered its first landing gear in spring 2017 and expects to produce 30-50 landing gear systems a year. “GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit and Dutch industry will play a critical role in the expanding Predator-series market,” General Atomics warns us on future drones exports.

Dutch production and technology

Fokker itself promotes it position by underlining that it also involves sub suppliers (KNWE and VDL GL Precision). In total about 10 Dutch SME’s are involved in the supply chain. A General Atomics press release cites the CEO of the Dutch Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Michel Peters “It’s a great opportunity for NLR to work together with GA-ASI on extending the existing European regulations on RPA usage in civilian airspace.”

Dutch Royal Ten Cate was mentioned earlier (2013)as producer of airframe parts for the Reaper drone. The company reported: “At the beginning of 2012, TenCate Advanced Composites in the United States of America received a Supplier Excellence Award from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. (...) TenCate has supplied composite prepregs for this company’s unmanned vehicle system programmes.” But since that report it is silent around the relationship between the Dutch company and General Atomics.

One of the othe companies working with GA-ASI on the MQ-9B is European missile producer MBDA ( having a financial holding in the Netherlands). But GKN Fokker is the main beneficiary of the Dutch acquisition.

Compensation

Crucial for Fokker's position is its knowledge of composite-based matériel, making the aircraft light, expanding the endurance and flight range. But the cooperation is also the result of an anticipated Dutch industrial and regional benefit obligation associated with the potential procurement of the drones by the Dutch armed forces. A quid pro quo mechanism with similarities to a mechanisms formerly known as offsets and compensation and nowadays often called industrial participation. General Atomics and Fokker have been working together for several years to offer Predator B to the Dutch Armed Forces.” The position for Fokker as contributor to the Reaper program has a strong link with Dutch MoD acquisition policy.

Free for all?

The landing gear is made by Fokker for armed and unarmed Reapers; for Reapers used by the French in Mali and for those used by the US in Afghanistan. The drones will be assembled in the US and the US will make the final decision on re-export. This collaboration by Fokker in the program opens a box of questions. Is India a problem as destination, because of its conflict with Pakistan? Is the United Arab Emirates, one of the most active in the Yemen war, acceptable for the Dutch government as an export destination? Or is The Hague simply hiding behind the formal argument: 'we will not control our allies and the US has its own arms export policy,' closing the box of questions by one sweep? This hide out is a convenient position for the Netherlands, because 72 per cent of all Dutch military exports concern components for larger weapon systems.The other way around considerations are on a much lower level, European allies must follow the US export policy or face the juridical and financial consequences.

The US deploys its Reaper drones to conflicts like Ukraine and Yemen and in the War on Terrorism. Those US drone deployments are notorious and destabilise countries and regions. Does the Netherlands agree with this use of armed drones? Or is the Dutch government hoping nobody will ever ask the question if Dutch Fokker products are meant for the killing machines.

Country	type	No. Armed y/n/some	Tasks (not extensively)
Australia		- y	Project AIR 7003 by Team Reaper Australia will provide an armed, Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) drone that will be fully-interoperable with Australia's allies.
Belgium	MQ-9B Sky Guardian	n	Negotiations to purchase a pair of medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicles. The government has approved the start of negotiations with the USA over the requirement. Belgium describes them as "reconnaissance" assets, suggesting that they will not carry weapons.
France	MQ-9 Reaper	6 n (y)	To support deployed troops, regional security, and interoperability with the US. Provides battlefield situational awareness, anticipates enemy intent, augments combat search and rescue, and provides ground troop support. y: MilBal2018, p. 73: Summer 2017 saw the French defence ministry announce that its Reapers would be armed in the short term – potentially with Hellfire or Brimstone missiles.
India	Guardian	- some	The military wants them for surveillance and to hunt down targets at land and sea.
Italian	9 MQ-9A Reaper 5 RQ-1B Predator	9 n 5 n	They will probably be involved in High Value Target surveillance and Reconnaissance (maybe SOF support). MilBal2018, p. 73: In 2015 the US authorised Italy to arm its MQ-9 Reapers with Hellfire missiles, although it remains unclear whether this has been carried out.
Morocco	Predator-A	4	Royal Moroccan Air Force
NL	MQ-9 Reaper	4 n	To be deployed to collect intelligence in support of military and civilian authorities (see text).
Spain	MQ-9 Reaper	4 n	Missions will include terrestrial and maritime identification, surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, combat support missions, electronic warfare, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection, improvised explosive devices recognition and rescue and air rescue support operations.
UAE	Predator XP/RQ-1E	- n	Predator XP (known in the UAE as RQ-1E) includes an automatic takeoff and landing capability, redundant flight control surfaces, enhanced avionics, triple-redundant flight control computers, high-definition Electro-optical Infrared (EO/IR) camera sensor, and a wide-area search radar system for both overland and maritime surveillance. The aircraft is also equipped with both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) data link systems for over-the-horizon operations. Gulf News states: GA-ASI is not authorised to sell the weaponized MQ-9 model to a number of countries, including the UAE.
UK	Protector RG.1 (MQ-9B)	20 y	Offering twice the endurance of the 10 Reapers it replaces the new type is expected to carry MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missiles and Raytheon Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
US	Predators: US Air Combat Command (ACC); Air Education and Training Command; Air National Guard Reapers: Air Combat Command (ACC); Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC); and Air National Guard and for the US Department of Homeland Security, and NAS
Note: On the wiki page on the Predator also Turkey is mentioned. But the deal has never materialised. (see also Hürriyet)

Written for / Geschreven voor Stop Wapenhandel

Week 42 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.)

Retweet: @joepbertrams (Saoedische etiquette #MohammedbinSalman #Khashoggi @DeGroene) 

Netherlands / Nederland (see also 22, 25)

1 – 171018: Due to my work investigating arms exports I know the names of three of the ten richest people of the Nehterlands. One because of a recent rumour. Two already for decades. https://www.moneymakers.com/top-10-richest-people-in-the-netherlands/

2 – 181018: Dutch parliament adopted resolution (GreenLeft VanOjik) to aim for an European arms embargo on Saudi Arabia at the EU top in Brussels. Only the (far) right win of the parliament voted against: VVD, SGP en Forum voor Democratie. Motie%20van%20het%20lid%20Van%20Ojik%20c.s.%20over%20stoppen%20met%20leveren%20van%20wapens%20aan%20Saoedi-Arabi%C3%AB.pdf

EUROPE

3 – 171018:COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2018/1542, 151018 restrictive measures against proliferation and use of chemical weapons https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1542&from=EN

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/1544, 151018 restrictive measures against proliferation and use of chemical weapons https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018D1544&from=EN

Belgium / België (see also 26)

4 – 221018 (retweet @Diederik_Cops): Will arms exports from Belgium to Saudi Arabia be suspended because of the #Kashoggi case? Walloon government licenced arms exports to Saudi Arabia worth more than 5 billion euros since 2010, Flemish arms exports valued at 1.2 million euros in the same period.

France (see also 13)

5 – 211018: Though the CEO Thales, Patrice Caine, pulled out of the conference, the French company is sending a subordinate the Saudis would respect, and a spokesman, Cédric Leurquin, said Thales hadn't changed its position on investing in Saudi Arabia. Although Mr. Leurquin would not divulge sales figures for KSA, Thales has 700 employees in the kingdom, supplies with military hardware, missiles, electronic warfare systems and even high-tech
security surveillance systems for Mecca and other holy sites https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/business/ceos-saudi-money.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fmichael-j.-de-la-merced

6 – 161018: Thales Nederland STIR EO MK 2 radar/electro-optical (EO) tracker in place of the Safran VIGY MM EO director at French FREDA frigates (fregates de défense aériennes/anti-air warfare (AAW)). https://www.janes.com/article/83618/first-freda-frigate-takes-shape

Germany / Deutchland

7 – 211018: Germany’s foreign minister is calling into question the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom acknowledged that writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed in its Istanbul consulate. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/the-latest-turkey-pol-criticizes-saudi-khashoggi-statement/2018/10/20/a8ded75c-d444-11e8-a4db-184311d27129_story.html?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.c6bceec2df0d

8 – 211018: Amid heightened scrutiny of Riyadh over the apparent murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Germany approves 416.4 million euros worth of arms in what may be a breach of a coalition agreement by Angela Merkel https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/germany-approves-half-a-billion-euros-worth-of-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-1.6573590

Greece / Ellas

9 – 161018: Proposal for the Damen Sigma 10514 frigate for Greece. Damen Sigma: Μια πιθανή λύση για το ΠΝ αντί για τις Belharra και FREMM - ΦΩΤΟ - http://www.onalert.gr/stories/damen-sigma-mia-piuanh-lysh-gia-to-pn-anti-gia-tis-belharra-kai-fremm/71870 via @OnAlertfeed

UK (see also 28)

10 – 151018: UK political groups spied on by undercover police – the list; DSEI arms fair protests included. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2018/oct/15/uk-political-groups-spied-on-undercover-police-list

REST of the world

Australia

11 – 221018: Australian Government move to keep from the public details of the Defence Department's contract with French-owned company Thales Australia for the purchase of 1100 Hawkei combat vehicles. detail faces renewed scrutiny. https://www.afr.com/news/government-move-to-block-defence-contract-detail-faces-renewed-scrutiny-20181022-h16yf6

Brasil

12 – 171018: Damen and Saab offer the transfer of knowledge to Brazil if the country buys the corvettes offered by the Swedish-Dutch team. (Damen-Saab Tamandaré promete transferência de tecnologia caso construa corvetas) https://www.portosenavios.com.br/noticias/ind-naval-e-offshore/damen-saab-tamandare-promete-transferencia-de-tecnologia-caso-construa-corvetas

China / Zhōngguó (see 18)

Egypt / Mişr

13 – 161018: Egypt: How French Arms Were Used to Crush Dissent draws on analysis by Amnesty's Digital Verification Corps of +20 hours of open source video footage, hundreds of photo's & 450 gig of further audio-visual material from local human rights groups and media. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur21/9038/2018/en/

Israël / Isra'il (see also 24)

14 – 211018: Revealed: Israel's cyber-spy industry helps world dictators hunt dissidents and gays https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-israel-s-cyber-spy-industry-aids-dictators-hunt-dissidents-and-gays

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 2, 4, 5, 7-8, 29)

15 – 151018: Saudis reject threats after Trump comments. http://wjhl.com/news/national/saudis-reject-threats-as-stocks-plunge-after-trump-comments/1523015974

Trade statistics export/import https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/saudi-arabia/tradestats

Saudi Import:

• 1) China
• 2) US
• 3) Germany
• 4) Japan
• 5) UAE
• 6) S Korea
• 7) India
• 8) Italy
• 9) France
• 10) UK
• 13) Switzerland
• 15) Spain
• 19) Netherlands

16 – 151018: Newsweek piece on US weapon sales to Saudia Arabia. Includes graph based on SIPRI data:

17 – 171018: Business is boycotting Saudi Arabia's big conference. Here's who's still going @CNNI #Thales https://cnn.it/2CL5qLk  Who is and isn't going from the Netherlands? https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/business/saudi-arabia-conference-attendees/index.html

18 – 171018: Trump fears China could replace US in arms sales to Saudi. He shouldn’t. China may engage more with KSA if Washington imposes sanctions over disappearance and presumed murder of Khashoggi, but it cannot supplant US arms sales as he believes, analysts say. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2168849/china-may-seek-boost-ties-saudi-arabia-it-cant-fill-us-arms

19 – 171018: Slowly - too slowly? - support moven away from crown prince MBS. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key defender of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, has vowed never to work with the kingdom so long as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in charge. https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2018/10/16/saudi-arabia-is-losing-lindsey-graham-a-key-ally-of-us-arms-sales/

20 – 171018: Military Expenditures dominate Saudi Arabia's budget. Saudi Arabia spends an unhealthy 10 percent of its GDP on arms.

21 – 211018: BigLaw Firms Quiet About Lobbying Ties To Saudi Arabia. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is the only major US law firm to end its lobbying relationship with KSA after its involvement in a journalist's death, as five other major law firms are keeping quiet. https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2018/10/18/gibson-dunn-ends-saudi-arabia-lobbying-contract/?slreturn=20180922044805

UAE / Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahidah (see 23-24, 25)

Ukraine / Ukrajina

22 – 171018: Q&A Dutch government if of the opinion that arms sales to the Ukraine don't support a solution for the conflict. However some small military exports happened, but other requests for export permissions were denied. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2018/10/17/beantwoording-vragen-over-wapenleveranties-aan-oekraine

Yemen / Al-Yaman

23 – 181018: US mercenaries — some of whom were ex-special operators with Army Special Forces, SEAL Team 6, and the CIA — were hired by the UAE in 2015 to take part in a "targeted assassination program in Yemen," BuzzFeed News investigation. #SpearOperationsGroup https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-us-special-ops-reportedly-hired-to-assassinate-yemeni-politicians-2018-10

24 – 191018: In-depth - Sana Uqba writes “#UAE hired Israeli mercenary to lead US death squad on #Yemen assassination spree“ https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/10/16/uae-hired-american-death-squad-to-assassinate-yemeni-opposition

25 – 221018: The battle for Hodeida begun. There are reported coalition airstrikes and shelling by naval ships. Guess who is delivering the UAE (2nd in the coalition) naval vessels with canons? The Dutch. https://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/yemeni-military-begin-operation-on-hodeidah-1.2236081#.W82TZPQ0qBw.twitter

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY

Damen (see also 9, 12, 25)

26 – 191018: CEO of biggest Dutch naval wharf takes position for Belgium to look after (as honorari consul ) Brussels interests in the rovince of Zeeland. More close the interest of the Netherlands biggest arms exporter and a State can hardly become. https://www.ad.nl/zeeland/scheldedirecteur-wordt-ere-consul-van-belgie~af6dd691/

27 – 211018: Long read: The sales strategy of the largest Dutch ship wharf. De doorgeschoten verkooplui van Hollands grootste scheepsbouwer. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/10/19/de-doorgeschoten-verkooplui-van-hollands-grootste-scheepsbouwer-a2665456 via @nrc

MBDA

28 – 151018: MBDA BV (Rotterdam): this holding seems to be a dovecot for persons with a BAES background one of the other replaced. https://drimble.nl/bedrijf/rotterdam/20150695/mbda-bv.html

Thales (see also 6, 9, 11, 17)

29 – 211018: Blockade of gates Dutch Thales because of equipment sales for Saudi tanks (not regarded military equipment), the role played by arms exports in the refugee crisis and the export of tech to consequently deny migrants entrance to the EU. [in Dutch] https://www.ravage-webzine.nl/2018/10/19/blokkade-thales-om-weren-van-vluchtelingen/

Letter box companies (see 28)

WEAPENS

Arms fairs (see 10)

Drones

30 – 161018: The MQ-9 Reaper #drone is now flown by the US in Ukrainian airspace, taking off from Miroslawiec airbase in Poland. Read more on drone politics in both Poland and Ukraine on our website: http://www.efadrones.org/countries

F-35

31 – 171018: About 20% of F-35s still down. Last week, the Pentagon’s joint progam office ordered all Joint Strike Fighters to stay on the ground until fuel tubes could be inspected. Many were found in need of replacement. https://www.defenseone.com/news/2018/10/rogue-killers-us-mercs-hired-kill-yemen-20-f-35s-still-down-army-wants-bigger-gun-and-just-bit-more/152058/ … via @defenseone

32 – 171018: Next large problem: F-35 is set to move into operational testing next month — a milestone that precedes the Pentagon’s decision on whether to begin full-rate production — but there are already signs that it may not be able to complete testing on time. #JSF https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/10/17/heading-into-f-35-operational-tests-threat-of-delays-loom/

Nukes

33 – 181018: When a US navy vessel visited a port it was always a question is it nuclear armed (Terrier, Asroc, subroc). But the US policy was: neither confirm nor deny. Some are longing to that past and propose: Bring Tactical Nukes Back to the Fleet. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2018-10/bring-tactical-nukes-back-fleet

Observation technology (IT) (see 14)

Speciale Forces (see 23-24)

OTHER

Corruption and fraud (see 27, alledged)

Defence budget

34 – 221018: VPRO Argos (radio) over Defensie en de negatieve krantenkoppen, begroting, structuur etc. https://www.vpro.nl/argos/media/afleveringen/2018/Krijgsmacht-in-het-slop.html

Refugees (see 29)

Research and activism (see 10, 13, 29)

Espionage (see 10)

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