UK expedites arms to Saudi Arabia while human rights deteriorate

Public Example – Saudi Arabia Beheadings for Crimes Ranging from Apostasy to Sorcery

Government continues to promote arms to Saudi Arabia as human rights deteriorate
21 May, 2013 – Campaign Against Arms Trade

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has condemned as shameful the UK government continued eagerness to sell arms to the authoritarian regime of Saudi Arabia, despite their worsening human rights situation and almost complete lack of democratic institutions.

New government data reveals that in 2012 the UK licensed weaponry worth £111.7 million to Saudi Arabia, plus £5.6 million worth of “dual use” goods. Overall, Saudi Arabia is the largest market for UK arms, buying almost £4 billion worth of weapons and military services between 2008 and 2012.

In 2007, Saudi Arabia contracted to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, from arms giant BAE Systems, in a deal worth up to £6 billion. Although the first 24 jets were delivered and arrangements put in place for servicing, upgrading and delivering the remaining 48 aircraft, a final price has yet to be agreed. In November 2012 David Cameron visited Saudi Arabia to help seal the deal – however, the negotiations continue.

The continued arms sales drive comes despite Saudi Arabia’s deteriorating human rights record:

– Saudi Arabia’s ranking in the The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2012 declined further to 163 out of 167 countries, and it was given zero points for “electoral process and pluralism”. The only countries ranked lower were Syria, Chad, Guinea Bissau and North Korea.

– Saudi Arabia’s press was assessed as “not free” by Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press Index 2013 which listed it as joint 182 of 197 countries listed.

– Saudi Arabia was listed as a “country of concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual report on Human Rights and Democracy 2012.

Despite its “country of concern” label, Saudi Arabia was simultaneously listed as a “priority market” by UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), the government’s arms sales unit, which regularly invites official delegations from Saudi Arabia to arms fairs and related “trade exhibitions” in the UK.

CAAT spokesperson Kaye Stearman said:

When it comes to Saudi Arabia the UK government completely disregards any considerations of human rights in its effects to sell arms, whether they be Eurofighter Typhoons, Tactica armoured vehicles or small arms and ammunition.

The Prime Minister and arms company executives visit Saudi Arabia to beg for orders and routinely roll out the red carpet for Saudi delegations to the UK, as they will be doing in September for the DSEi arms fair. It’s time to end this damaging and dangerous relationship and stop selling arms to this repressive and despotic regime.
Arms export data – UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia

In 2012 the UK licensed weaponry worth £111.7 million to Saudi Arabia . The main items licensed fell in the categories: “aircraft, helicopters, drones” – £81.4 million; “armoured vehicles, tanks” – £8.8 million; “technology” – £3.8 million; “imaging equipment” – £3.5 million; “other electronic equipment” – £3.2 million; “grenades, bombs, countermeasures” – £3.2 million; “ammunition” – £2.1 million; “chemical, biological agents” – £1.5 billion; and “small arms” – £1.2 million.

In addition, there were licences totalling over £3.6 million for dual use items of “telecommunications and information security”, which could be used against dissidents.

In the five years 2008-2012, the UK licensed arms worth over £3.9 billion to Saudi Arabia, with “aircraft, helicopters and drones” (essentially, Eurofighter Typhoon sales and services) taking the lion’s share at £3.4 billion. There were also substantial amounts of other military equipment and services, including £236 million of “grenades, bombs, missiles and countermeasures”, £90 million of small arms and £67 million of armoured vehicles and tanks. (For these and other items see full list.) In addition, the UK also licensed over £147.5 million worth of “dual use” goods. …source