Arms trade has two sides; the export by one is the import by
the other. Arms export is controlled in most countries but import is
not. Although it may have large and long term consequences for security
and human rights. Not in the country importing, but in the country of
export.
Turkish import
Since Ankara started the invasion of northern Syria in October 2019
arms exports to Turkey are discouraged by the European Union. The Dutch
government calls this an “effective signal to Turkey” in answers to parliamentary questions on Dutch military imports from Turkey.
The government is of the opinion that arms export control is aimed at “preventing the use in human rights violations or territorial
aggression" and arms imports are “only controlled in respect to domestic
safety.”
Defence Turkey reports that in the first two months of 2020 The Netherlands was a major importer
of military products from Turkey, with a value of $ 16 million. The
Dutch government was not able to confirm this figure. It could only
provide information on the acquisition of services and goods for the
overhaul and modification of the Stinger launching system, to be fitted
to Dutch military Fennek vehicles.
An arms industry without exports is not viable and sales abroad are
essential for its existence. An arms industry gives a country greater
independence and freedom for military and foreign policy. Turkey has a
right to defend its security, but the reason for strict arms export
measures is that it exercises this right in a way the Netherlands and
other EU countries do not agree with. In such a situation,
differentiating between exports and imports is at least a bit peculiar.
Israeli cooperation
Another remarkable import concerns contracts for military simulation technology for the Dutch armed forces built by a consortium between Israeli Bagira and Dutch Van Halteren in Bunschoten, a small Dutch village. Arms imports from Israel have been questioned several times
in the past decades. Not the least because of its use in internal and
external conflict. Like Turkey, Israel has a different view on security
policy in the Middle East as most European countries.
Israeli arms are attractive because Israel has advanced military
research and technology, but also because its arms are combat proven. In
the case of simulation technology, this means that scenario's are based
on operations outside the gates.
“An operation in the heart of Gaza, a
patrol along the Lebanese border, a West Bank roadblock, and an
extrication mission from deep behind enemy lines – the simulators at the
IDF [Israeli Defence Force] Ground Training Center at the Tze'elim base
prepare IDF commanders for various combat scenarios from the comfort of
an air-conditioned room”
Training is key for military forces and simulations is becoming more
important to exercise skills in the high-tech environment that
battlefield is today. The Bagira simulation equipment and tools are not
only to train combat, but also to learn how to deal with “the Israeli
and foreign media when warfighters enter a combat zone.” The company
provides military technology to IDF and trains 150,000 Israeli military
personnel annually. According to its director Yaron Mordechay Mizrachi
it is: “part of the IDF long-term program.” He continues: “We maintain
on-going, close contacts with the IDF command and with the elements that
develop the combat doctrines, as we would be called upon to develop
simulations for the future training programs.”
The simulator cooperation between Van Halteren and Bagira is just one
of the aspects of the relationship. Bagira represents itself as an
international player; it produced 40 simulators for the Israeli armed
forces (30 of them for IDF), the Netherlands and Thailand. The Thai sale
is connected to the simulators sold by the Dutch company, the
Integrated-Howitzer Crew Trainer (I-HCT) for LG1, M101 and L119 105mm
artillery.
To underline the closeness with Van Halteren the Israeli company has
established Bagira Netherlands B.V. at the premisses of Van Halteren in
Bunschoten. According to the Chamber of Commerce
the Dutch branch is directed by Yaron Mizrachi, the CEO of Bagira, and
by Sagi Mizrahi of the Armaz Group, an umbrella company covering
different branches of Bagira.
The whole Bagira-Van Halteren packet is strengthening Israeli defence
and training for operations which are condemned regularly by the
international community, like after shelling of an unarmed farmer in 2018.
Arms imports should be evaluated just as arms exports, with respect for
peace and human rights. Support for the building of a defence
industrial base in the countries were the arms are bought should be part
of the evaluation of an arms transaction, as it might have devastating
long term effects on the ability to control military technology.
Consortium of Norwegian
Defence Research Establishment #FFI & Dutch #NLR & #TNO build
nanosatellites Birkeland & Huygens, part of a military use of
space #MilSpace project under a bilateral strategic mutual assistance
in research and technology #SMART MoU
https://www.nlr.org/news/norwegian-dutch-research-mission-for-radar-signals/
Addition:
Airbus Heli's booked 54 orders, incl. 21 H145s, 15 UH-72 Lakotas
for the US Army & 2 Super Pumas. D&S order intake of €1.7bn
incl. military aircraft-related services, new contract wins in
telecommunications and in connected intelligence. Also incl. Phase 1A
demonstrator FCAS.
https://www.dgap.de/dgap/News/adhoc/airbus-airbus-reports-first-quarter-results/
***#Australian
sale of frigates to #Chile controversial and publicity avoided
because the purchase given recent major protests in the country
against inequality, which saw up to five per cent of the population
take to the streets in October last year.
http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/details-missing-in-chilean-ffg-deal
#China's military 2020
budget could maintain a steady increase even though foreign reports
have suggested that an economic crisis caused by the #COVID-19
pandemic will hit military spending, but a slight decrease is also
possible, Chinese analysts said.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1187041.shtml
***
Military technology of
the present times, can be quiet different from weapons of the past.
#Saudi
Arabia (by #GAMI) announced it will procure 6 unspecified #drones in
2021 from local firm Intra Defence Technologies, and a further 40
systems within 5 years. It will probably be the #Karayel tactical
#UAV, developed by Turkey's Vestel.
https://www.janes.com/article/95813/saudi-arabia-announces-uav-procurement
***
Global
defense spending decline expected as nations deal with coronavirus.
Experts see domestic projects taking priority over national security
in the coming years.
A court in Vienna has
stopped an Austrian investigation into alleged fraud by Airbus and
Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH in connection with a $2 billion
Eurofighter jet purchase in 2003, it said on April 27.
https://orf.at/stories/3163494/
*** #EU
renewed its #sanctions on #Myanmar until 30/4/21. They #embargo
arms/equipment that may be used by police/military, or for internal
repression or monitoring #communications and forbid military training
& cooperation as well.
*** #F35
supersonic flight is permanently #limited. Anti-radar coating &
some of its antennae can’t endure much time past the sound barrier.
Pentagon decided not to fix the problem and just live with it, and
limit the time pilots are allowed to fly supersonic.
https://www.defenseone.com/news/2020/04/the-d-brief-april-27-2020/164921/
How
virus surveillance and civil liberties could collide
https://www.law360.com/access-to-justice/articles/1267269/how-virus-surveillance-and-civil-liberties-could-collide
*** Global
military expenditure sees largest annual increase in a decade—says
SIPRI—reaching $1.917 billion in 2019.
https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/fs_2020_04_milex_0.pdf
12 EU member states among 40 largest spenders. Netherlands climbed
from position 21 to 19 and growth 2018-2019 is among the largest.
Open
letter: Military budgets could be used to pay 4 health & social
cost. Longer term: re-orientate economy towards socially useful
production, shift funds from militaristic approaches towards human
security, tackling pandemics, poverty & climate change.
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/39440
***
"Moet
#Defensie zich gereedmaken om assistentie
te verlenen bij het voorkomen van stromen #vluchtelingen en
#gelukszoekers die onze grenzen over willen komen?"
Coronavirus
crisis makes clear Pentagon should get no more money this year was
the message by 60 organisations. "We cannot continue spending
bns of dollars on weapons while people across the country struggle to
buy food, pay rent, and survive a pandemic."
***Opinion
on football touches at selling weapons to war mongering nation, "I
thought top-level football had something to do with promoting 'role
models'."
*** The
practical impact of guidance on the role of the military in the
current pandemic, whatever it may be, is unclear. Pentagon doctrine
on infectious disease seems to have been overtaken by events
Federation of American Scientists #FAS states at blog.
https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/2020/04/military-covid19/
Forest
fire season is early this year, also in the Netherlands. It is the
second front the armed forces are coming in to help. Why there is no
civil (UN) organisation tasked with this job and we use tools (with
expensive) military qualifications instead?
https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2020/16/03_natuurbranden_16
The Supreme Court of
the Netherlands has referred a decision back to the Amsterdam Court
of Appeal concerning the re-export of #military
goods (component parts for an Atlas Cheetah jet plane) to #Equador
without a licence.
Retweet
Collected information by NGO Omega on alleged excessive use of force
by forces to enforce COVID-19 lockdown. Map is interactive and can be
searched on context and equipment used.
Omega has been
collating information about incidents of alleged use of force that
have occurred in the context of Coronavirus measures or protests
arising from Coronavirus-related concerns. Explore the cases at
https://omegaresearchfoundation.org/covid.php
#coronavirus #covid19 #useofforce @hrw
***
Retweet:
More money for policy countering climate change, for social security
and for health care. No more bombers, tanks and submarines.
***
Italian #Ficantieri
reopens to build war ships at a reduced pace.
Riva Trigoso yard:
final FREMM frigate, & PPA patrol vessels
Muggiano yard:
auxilary, Vulcano, & LHD amphib, the Trieste.
For those who followed
our #EUarms investigations in-depth: you have a few days left to
share ideas and feedback with MEP @HneumannMEP who is preparing a
report and a resolution.
No EU weapons for
warmongers!
We need a
mechanism for EU-level #arms export control.
This is
one of the demands in my report for a resolution of @Europarl_EN.
Do you
want to give feedback Let us know by 25th April!
#UAE-based
companies shipped nearly 11,000 tonnes of #jet fuel to eastern
#Libya, the stronghold of the renegade general Khalifa #Haftar, in a
suspected violation of an international arms #embargo, according to
documents seen by the Financial Times.
https://www.ft.com/content/c3405be4-a9f1-4902-8356-73f5ece37825
German
naval industry considers there are three rivals Dutch Damen, French
Naval Group and Italian Ficantieri. Which wharf will be the first
victim of this rivalry? Or has the State deep pockets in a four
countries?
https://taz.de/Werftkonzern-fuer-Kriegsschiffe-geplant/!5677100/
***
Retweet2:
CDA leeft nog in de jaren 70 en 80 toen
de defensie industrie dé bron voor innovatie (term die toen nog niet
gebruikt werd) was. Tegenwoordig zijn deskundigen het erover eens dat
die rol van vernieuwing elders ligt. Maar vakkennis mag militaire
propaganda niet in de weg zitten. Retweet1:
Martijn van Helvert@Martijncda De
@SPnlheeft geen oog voor innovatieve bedrijven en #maakindustrie
rondom #Defensie. Of deelt de #SP liever tomatensoep uit aan de
gesloten fabriekspoort als arbeiders die werken aan materiaal voor
#vrede & #veiligheid geen baan meer hebben?
#KortelijnmetMartijnTweet:
Opvallende, verontrustende, invloed van
de Defensie-industrie op VVD en CDA. Of de hele coalitie? Andere
zaken dan wapens zijn nu belangrijker! ‘Koop nieuw
defensiematerieel vanwege coronacrisis in Nederland‘ | Politiek |
http://AD.nl
https://ad.nl/politiek/koop-nieuw-defensiematerieel-vanwege-coronacrisis-in-nederland~a780106c/
Yes that is important,
NOT: continuation of military export licensing during the pandemic.
Weapons to fight Covid? UK Export Control Joint Unit will be
co-hosting a webinar on Wednesday April 22. To sign up visit:
Covid-19: Export Controls and Licences
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3533321703869931789
***
Oldie.
Israel based #Bagira Systems/ Van #Halteren Defence has bagged
contract from Ministerie van Defensie Nederland for Software package
and information systems. Do not know if I've ever tweeted about this
Dutch Israeli combination. source: HT Digital Content Services,
31/01/19
In February, #Egypt's
Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed al-Assar announced
a new three-year plan to boost the local manufacturing of weapons.
***
Swiss
military communication and control with Israeli equipment. Elbit to
provide Command & Control systems for Swiss reconnaissance
battalions valued $ 15 million.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/42619
***
European
Defence Agency #EDA call for papers from defence industry, academia
and research institutes on integration of military air capabilities
in a changing aviation sector. Topics:
A
number of multi-purpose combat drones 've been handed over to the
Iranian army. They are a product of "the capabilities of the
defence industry, the country's universities and knowledge-based
companies," Defence Minister Amir Hatami said at IRINN rolling
news channel 18 April.
Spanish
government has yet to approve export licence request for EUR2 billion
corvette order by Saudi Arabia, with construction having already
started. Application would be "rigorously" checked against
the #ArmsTreaty, Spanish legislation, and EU criteria.
https://janes.com/article/95585/saudi-corvette-order-requires-fresh-export-licence
*** Iedereen
gezien! Camera Puma #drone kan flink inzoomen, vertelt landmacht
korporaal en vehicle-operator met trots. De Puma is groter &
beter dan z'n voorganger; de Raven. “Het grootste voordeel is dat
‘ie vanwege de hoogte onzichtbaar en geruisloos is.”
https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2020/15/02_dronespuma_15
***
How
the Military-Industrial Complex Is Using the Coronavirus
Arms industry lobbyists
are addressing this pandemic and preparing for the next by pushing
weapons sales.
***
Midden in de
aanstormende economische crisis stemt de Kamer zeer binnenkort over
een wet die de komende 5 jaar €20 miljard reserveert voor militair
materieel, en de verwachting is dat de wet wordt aangenomen.
Good news @Vredesactie estimates
suspension of new arms export licences with end destination Saudi
Arabia by Belgian administrative court halved the Belgian arms export
over 2017 and 2018 and over 2019 possibly even 75%.
https://vredesactie.be/belgian-arms-export-halved-due-court-decision
In the coming months
decisions will be taken with long term consequences for military
expenditure & arms production. The arms industry has been
shifting parts of its production from swords to ploughshares recently
to help producing medical equipment. But!
http://stopwapenhandel.org/node/2391
***
#Gorbatchov: What we
need is a rethinking of the entire concept of #security. Even after
the end of the Cold War, it has been envisioned mostly in military
terms. Over the past few years, all we’ve been hearing is talk
about weapons, missiles & airstrikes.
https://time.com/5820669/mikhail-gorbachev-coronavirus-human-security/
Arms industry as
example for bringing production home in #Austrlia. "Canberra
already mandates that a certain proportion of work on defence
contracts be done locally and manufacturing advocates would like
similar schemes introduced in other sectors."
https://www.ft.com/content/04ac783d-8ced-4e66-9437-78b607cbd8d4
25 state attorneys
general are asking the Trump administration to crack down on Defense
Distributed's Defcad site for selling 3D-printed gun files. In a
letter sent today, they urged the Justice Department and State
Department to enforce rules agains ...
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/letter_to_defense_distributed.pdf
The
pandemic has already declined to the UN's role in conflict prevention
and resolution. It is time for the United States and China to realize
that continuing in a gruding geopolitical struggle is the world
approaching the abyss. (CE Noticias Financieras English, April 13,
2020)
The
US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department
approved the sale of Excalibur tactical #projectiles fr the
battlefield to the #Netherlands. The deal is valued at $40.55m &
for 199 #Excalibur Increment IB M982Al tactical projectiles.
https://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/netherlands-excalibur-projectiles
#Finland
has issued new licenses for military exports to the #UAE, reversing a
2018 policy promise to stop sales to any country involved in the
Yemen conflict.
#Eiertanz,
or dancing around new #German fighter aircraft: France and Bavaria
against the USA, Airbus against #Boeing, both together against
#Lockheed, the #SPD against the Union and the #CSU against their
sister party.
https://magazin.spiegel.de/SP/2020/16/170435625/index.html
The
good news brought @NATOpress is that SG
@AndersFoghR advised to cut 40% on Military Expenditures across @NATO
to make certain there will be government budget in the future to pay
for masks, IC-beds, protective wear, well paid medical staff etc.
Thank you NATO! (-; @jensstoltenberg
Reaction
on NATO propaganda: In response to
#COVID-19, NATO and Allies are sharing medical supplies, airlifting
critical patients and providing other vital support in a time of
need. #WeAreNATO #coronavirus
***
De coronavisie van het Belgische Vrede
@Ludodb: Het is vooral naïef om te denken dat oorlog en bewapening
ons een veilige toekomst bieden. Tijd om realist te worden en werk te
maken van ontwapening! Ontwapenen om te ontwikkelen!
https://www.vrede.be/nieuws/tijd-voor-ontwapening-lessen-uit-de-coronacrisis
April 11
*** Wie
heeft toegang tot de data?
‘Veel bedrijven
achter corona-apps werkten samen met inlichtingendiensten’
*** Dutch
center right daily paper Telegraaf reports on #Italian #debate on
acquisition of two #submarines, valued € 1.3 billion in connection
to health care shortages. The Dutch paper cites la Republica:
"winning weapons are mouth caps, protective wear etc."
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/696629388/ruzie-in-italie-over-dure-onderzeeers
Chip
maker #Intel has been chosen to lead a new
initiative led by the US military’s research wing, #DARPA, aimed at
improving cyber-defences against deception attacks on machine
learning models. #AI
https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/09/intel-darpa-machine-learning/
#Ercom,
bought by Thales for € 40m, 200 employees. Its subsidiary #Suneris
provides a range of communications interception equipment: wireless
interceptor, dubbed Wifileaks but also IMSI-catchers to the French
foreign #intelligence service. Paywall
http://lirelactu.fr/source/challenges/9f097bf1-61e0-4051-bb10-0a5f5fc4843d
Concern of the Polish
military industry increases due to the corona crisis. The association
of firms operating in this sector (ZPiPPOL) send a letter the
Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Assets, calling for
activities to support them. Paywall
http://www.pnb.pl/clientarea/polish-news-bulletin-daily/499397.html
***
Huh??? Thierry Breton
(EU Commissioner): In this difficult period on many fronts, we are
mobilising all EU programmes to support our companies (...) With the
joint development of defence technology, we are making Europe more
resilient.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_595
Minister De Jonge
kondigde net aan dat apps ingezet gaan worden in de strijd tegen
corona. In China doen ze dat al, en dat precedent voorspelt niet veel
goeds voor onze privacy, schreef @roxanevaniperen
Ook zo genoeg van 'n
veiligheidsbeleid waarbij voorraden mondkapjes niet bestaan, er te
weinig IC-bedden zijn en coronatesten, tja. Ik steun daarom liever
Stop Wapenhandel @CTWnl dan het Militair Industrieel Complex.
***
It is
to small to be afraid of all this weaponry. To fight corona we need
medics, not missiles, submarines and tanks.
Retweet
@TimMilesWright Global military expenditure is roughly US$1.8
trillion per year. Can we please redirect this money towards meeting
human needs? #COVID19
Belgium, Denmark,
Estonia, the Netherlands, and Portugal have all committed troops to a
new French-led special forces mission in the Sahel region called Task
Force Takuba.
***
#EuropeanParliament
Committee on Foreign Affairs draft report on Arms export:
implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP. pp. 9 Rapporteur:
Hannah Neumann
#Lobby organisatie
#NIDV werk intensief samen met 't Defensie #COVID-19 coördinatie
team. Plaatsvervangend directeur Lutje Schipholt: Met de Defensiestaf
wordt bezien welke mogelijkheden de NIDV-deelnemers hebben om de
autoriteiten bij te staan.
https://www.nidv.eu/bedrijven-staan-klaar-om-defensie-te-helpen/
After a succesful first
webinar, the Transnational Institute organises a 2nd on: Our response
to the coming global recession. Speakers: Professor Jayati Ghosh;
Quinn Slobodian; and Walden Bello. Wednesday April 8, 16.00 hours.
Register at
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__K9JluRdSaq1KQ3v31SGyA
#Russian
defence industry reports little impact from #Covid-19. It involves
threats and opportunities, accoridng to a article by RIA Novosti of
March, 31 (translated by BBC Worldwide Monitoring April, 2) #Rostec
subsidiary Roskhimzashchita developed an antivirus protective suit.
***
Fincantieri
posts record-high revenues in 2019
Actions to counter the
emergency and ensure the health of all Fincantieri employees,
including the interruption of production activities since March 16th,
have been promptly deployed
Damen delivered PNS
Yarmook is a state-of-the-art electronic warfare, anti-ship &
anti-submarine warfare platform with cutting edge self-protection and
terminal defence systems. It will act as force multipliers in
enhancing PN’s capabilities
https://dailytimes.com.pk/589241/pns-yarmook-a-force-multiplier-for-pn/
@dailytimespak
April 4
***
Not
even the Covid-19 stops them: the F35 fighter-bombers continue to be
assembled and produced in the Italian factory in Cameri, where a few
hundred workers risk falling ill to ensure this production which is
definitely not so essential and necessary.
https://ilmanifesto.it/cameri-il-ricatto-di-produrre-armi-e-f35/
To
halt spread of COVID-19, democracies and dictatorships alike are
expanding the use of surveillance technologies—a measure that could
have repercussions long after the virus is contained. Read how
authoritarian regimes use tools of digital repression.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2020-02-06/digital-dictators
