zondag 7 oktober 2018

Week 40 in #wapenhandel25tweets


(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.
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See tweet 29

Netherlands / Nederland (see also 14, 20)

1 – 011018: Dutch dual-use exports in 08/2018. Remarkable:

2 – 011018: Questions in Parliament by MP Karabulut (SP) on transit of arms through Schiphol airport and other air and sea ports. Doorvoer van militaire goederen via Schiphol en anderen Nederlandse havens. https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2018Z17273&did=2018D46894

3 – 021018: Considerations on Dutch non-lethal assistance to Syrian groups looked at from internal juridical by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iron bars used to connect camera's (but also arms) highest risk to be contra juridical obligations. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2018/10/01/kamerbrief-over-juridische-adviezen-over-niet-letale-steun-nla

EUROPE (see also 27)

4 – 051018: MEPs condemn attacks on civilians, including children, in Yemen. One solution they recommend is: Stop selling arms to parties at war.

Those MEP's may visit their national capitals and own party offices to urge them to follow this advise.


5 – 061018: New paper on the further development of the EU common position on arms exports, prepared by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) experts for the European Parliament Sub-Committee on Security & Defence (SEDE), has been published online. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/603876/EXPO_STU(2018)603876_EN.pdf

6 – 061018: UK&US will be allowed to join some EU military projects. In May, a group led by Benelux countries pushed for #Pesco to be opened up. France is concerned this would deny EU27 industries defence work. Austria&Greece that EU would've to offer Turkey the same. https://www.politico.eu/article/pesco-military-uk-and-us-will-be-allowed-to-join-some-eu-military-projects/

7 – 061018: Blog on Europe and Killer Robots [in Dutch] Killer robots met Europese subsidie? http://vreedzaameu.blogspot.com/2018/09/killer-robots-met-europese-subsidie_27.html

(EP Defence and Security (SEDE) is organising public hearing on 'Artificial intelligence and its future impact on security' on 10/10/18, from 09.00 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/sede/home.html)



Belgium / België (see 16, 21, 22)

France (see also 19, 26)

8 – 031018: Mattis offers easing of US export limits on French Scalp cruise missile. Pending French arms deals with #Qatar and #Egypt include technology still requiring Washington's approval. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/02/mattis-offers-easing-of-us-export-limits-on-french-cruise-missile/

9 – 031018: Naval Group, a French shipbuilder, sought to play down media reports of a potential collapse of talks for a major contract with Australia for 12 ocean-going submarines, with elections looming next year in the Commonwealth nation. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/euronaval/2018/10/02/naval-group-talks-with-australia-still-underway-for-sub-buy/

10 – 031018: Sale of 2.35% of Safran will provide €1.24bn to the French State Afterwards it will still remain the largest shareholder of Safran, with 10.81%. https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/la-vente-de-2-35-de-safran-va-rapporter-1-24-milliard-d-euros-a-l-etat-792363.html

Germany / Deutchland

11 – 071018: SPD vice fraction chair Rolf Mützenich on German arms exports to Saudi Arabia told Der Spiegel: "We doubt if the transfers are according the coalition agreement." [in German]

Italy / Italia

12 – 061018: The good news: Italy’s new government has halted plans for a new missile defense system amid reports it will reduce defense procurements in 2019 to help fund welfare spending and tax cuts. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/04/italy-stalls-on-missile-program-as-budget-cuts-loom/

Turkey / Türkiye

13 – 051018: Turkey to get two more F-35 fighter jets in March 2019 - Turkey News http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-get-two-more-f-35-fighter-jets-in-march-2019-137434 via @HDNER



UK

REST of the world

Algerije / Al-Jazā'ir
15 – 061018: Algiers recently began buying from EU & US arms makers but keeps Russia as its key weapons provider, partly due to a geopolitical calculation that its main regional rival, Morocco, will remain a closer military ally to Europe and the United States. https://thearabweekly.com/algeria-seeks-avoid-us-sanctions-over-russian-arms-purchases

Argentine (see 1)

Australia (see also 9)

16 – 021018: Australian Lithgow is expected to continue to play a vital role in the collaboration between Thales Australia and Belgium-based FN Herstal. http://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/story/5676925/lithgow-arms-growth-thales-agreement-may-lead-to-new-opportunities/?cs=1464 via @lithgowmercury

Central African Republic / Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka (see 24)

China / Zhōngguó

17 – 011018: China researches new laser satellite to search for submerged submarines as deep as 500 meters. It also invests in a more feasible project on microwave radar, also mounted on the satellite, to search for disturbances at the surface. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/2166413/will-chinas-new-laser-satellite-become-death-star-submarines via @SCMPNews

18 – 051018: More on Patrick Ho. He sold arms to Libya and Qatar. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/2166847/former-hong-kong-minister-patrick-ho-accused-being  via @SCMPNews

Egypt / Mişr (see 8)

Georgia / Sak'art'velo

19 – 041018: France delivers ground-based surveillance radars and short range anti-aircraft missile systems to Georgia. Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said https://civil.ge/archives/256027

Indonesia

20 – 031018: Indonesia ratified defence agreements with the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia on facilitation of defence trade and related industrial collaboration; to engage with both in military R&D projects; and military exchanges, training and education programmes. https://www.janes.com/article/83523/indonesia-ratifies-defence-agreements#.W7T8WSIn7CI.twitter

Kenya

21 – 041018: MD Helicopters has confirmed orders from Kenya for 6 MD530Fs. The MD530Fs include 62mm ballistic protection, FN Herstal .50 caliber HMP 400 machine gun pods, and M260 seven-round rocket pods. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/md-helicopters-confirms-kenyan-lebanese-md530-deal-452390/

Lebanon

22 – 041018: The Lebanese Armed Forces will receive 6 light attack helicopters from MD Helicopters. This is the 3rd delivery of a 5-year $1.4bn light scout attack helicopter IDIQ contract. The Lebanese MD-530Gs will be equipped with FN Herstal Weapons Management Sys. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/md-helicopters-confirms-kenyan-lebanese-md530-deal-452390/

Libya / Lībīyah (see 18)

Morocco / Al-Maghrib (see 15)
New Zealand (see 29)

Pakistan / Pākistān

23 – 031018: No doubt the Pakistan India conflict has been kept alive by weapons' sellers too... https://independentindian.com/2015/03/03/pakistans-indias-illusions-of-power-psychosis-vs-vanity/ Or rather, given the lucrativeness of the weapons' business plus excess capacity & production, there's no incentive to seek solutions to the conflict

Qatar (see 8, 18)

Russia / Rossija (see also 1)

24 – 021018: Russian journalist Orkhan Dzhemal (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4160144), who was shot dead in the Central African Republic (CAR) in July, conducted his own journalistic investigation into possible "unaccounted" arms supplies from Russia, Russian independent TV channel Dozhd said on 28/09/18.

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see also 2, 4, 11, 20)

25 – 041018: US global exports in 2017 accounted for $1550bn. Arms sales to Riyadh were < US$20bn. Economic value is thus relatively small, but the destructive value enormous. Not a key factor in US economic growth. http://www.alriyadhdaily.com/article/85fb9a0b49e6439e847e463a90c081b8 via @alRiyadhDaily

Syria / Suriyah (see 3)
Thailand / Prathēt Thai (see 1)

UAE / Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahidah

26 – 041018: Those same Leclerc tanks that Al Yousef’s dealings allowed the UAE to purchase are now rolling down highways in Yemen, in a war where human rights atrocities are uncountable. Secret Wikileaks Document on France UAE Arms Deal Raises Questions | Al Bawaba. https://www.albawaba.com//news/secret-wikileaks-document-france-uae-arms-deal-raises-questions-1194558

Ukraine / Ukrajina

27 – 061018: Ukraine will switch to an EU-compliant unified list of dual-use goods subject to export control later this month, according to the State Service of Export Control of Ukraine. https://www.worldecr.com/news/ukraine-issues-unified-list-of-dual-use-goods/ (More info can be found Only in Ukrainian): http://www.dsecu.gov.ua/control/uk/index

United States

28 – 061018: Make America great again by selling weapons.
Europe 1st (US$ 37,34bn),
Gulf/Middle East 2nd (US$ 22.12bn)
Asia-pacific 3rd (US$ 8.85bn)

Yemen / Al-Yaman (see 4, 26)

WEAPENS

Arms fairs

29 – 021018: New Zealand: Amid protests over a 'defence industry forum/weapons expo' mayor of Palmerston North City prommises tighter rules so venues meet ethical standards. Opponents say the city should be clear about rejecting "truly vile weapons" and "blood money". https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107508409/defence-industry-forum-to-go-ahead-at-council-venue-despite-protests

F-35 (see also 13-14)

30 – 031018: On the cost of the F-35, operating (the different types A, B, C) and Turkey will still receive 100 of the fighters, despite the noise made giving potentially a different impression? https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/f-35-hourly-flying-costs-plunge-12k-turkey-still-getting-100-f-35s/

Nukes

31 – 011018: Military spending on nuclear weapons is hard to estimate. A new SIPRI piece on the Russian case gives an idea of the problems and opacity surrounding the topic. New commentary from SIPRI's Associate Senior Fellow, Professor Julian Cooper: https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2018/how-much-does-russia-spend-nuclear-weapons

Robot weapons / AI (see 7)

Satellites (see also 17)

32 – 041018: Militarization of space: Trump’s new Space Force may target a rising China, Beijing’s confidence about its technological development make it unlikely to be destabilised in the way the Soviet Union was by Star Wars, say military analysts. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/2166844/why-donald-trumps-new-space-force-cant-hurt-china-star-wars-hurt via @SCMPNews

Small Arms (see 16, 21, 22)
Submarines (see 9, 16, 17)

OTHER

Corruption and fraud (see 26)
Defence budget (see 12)
Research and activism (see 29, 31)

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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