The 'Big Six' arms exporters
1. ChinaThere are few official statistics on the Chinese arms trade but
the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that accounts
for around 3 per cent of the global trade in conventional arms.Countries
suppliedRecipient countries over the past decade have tended to be
developing countries with poor human rights records including Algeria,
Angola, Bangladesh, DRC, Guinea, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan,
Kenya, Libya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Irresponsible transfersChina continues to supply small arms ammunition to
Sudan which has been used in Darfur by security forces and government backed
militia groups. Chinese rockets and anti-vehicle mines were supplied to
Libya under Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. Ammunition, rocket-propelled
grenades, mortar bombs and mortar launchers have been supplied to
Zimbabwe.Stance on the ATTChina has not signed up to any multilateral
agreement on arms exports, and has a cautious approach to the proposed
treaty. It has said it accepts the need for a treaty to recognize
international human rights but that such criteria are difficult to judge
objectively. There have been interventions from China to narrow the scope of
the ATT to exclude small arms and light weapons, as well as
government-to-government transfers. Experience from earlier negotiations
suggests that China will try to water down the text and then introduce a
late major objection.
2. France France, Germany and UK are consistently ranked third, fourth or
fifth globally in terms of the value of their conventional arms exports.
Countries suppliedFrances key customers include Singapore, UAE, Greece,
other NATO partners, the Middle East and North Africa region and Francophone
countries. Recently, France and Russia have begun exchanges on defence
cooperation and naval equipment.Irresponsible transfersGenerally supportive
of strict criteria for arms transfers, France has still supplied arms to
countries where there is a substantial risk that they could be used to
commit serious human rights violations. For example, it supplied weaponry
and munitions to Libya under al-Gaddafi, ammunition and armoured vehicles to
both Egypt and Chad, and munitions to Syria between 2005 and 2009.Stance on
the ATTFrance has a progressive position broadly in line with the EU Common
Position on Arms Exports, established along with the UK and other EU
governments. It generally supports inclusion of a binding rule along the
lines of Amnesty Internationals Golden Rule. France has pushed for a
comprehensive treaty and robust enforcement mechanisms, including
criminalizing arms trafficking in national laws. However, there is a risk
that France (along with Germany and UK) may bend to US pressures to water
down human rights protection in order to accommodate China and Russia.
3. Germany Germany is consistently ranked third, fourth or fifth globally in
terms of the value of its conventional arms exports. Though not a permanent
member of the UN Security Council, as an economic leader in the EU, a major
player in the UN, the Wassenaar Arrangement, OSCE and other multilateral
organisations, Germanys influence in ATT negotiations will be
significant.Countries suppliedGermany is one of the largest EU exporters of
arms to the Middle East and North Africa region. Other key customers include
South Africa, Greece, Turkey and other NATO partners, as well as Asian and
Latin American countries. Irresponsible transfersGenerally supportive of
strict criteria for arms transfers, Germany has nonetheless supplied arms to
countries where there is a substantial risk they could be used to commit
human rights violations. For example, it supplied armoured vehicles to Yemen
and to Libya under al-Gaddafi as well as small arms to Bahrain and Egypt. It
has supplied arms and ammunition to Guatemala and to the Philippines. Stance
on the ATTGermanys basic position on the treaty is in line with the EU
Common Position on Arms Exports. It also generally supports inclusion of
Amnesty Internationals Golden Rule. The country has a progressive position
on the scope of the treaty and supports the inclusion of small arms and
light weapons as well as munitions. Germany has emphasized the need for
clarity in the ATT on the responsibility of each state in an arms
transaction. As with France and the UK, there is a risk that Germany may
succumb to US pressure to water down the ATT text on human rights in order
to accommodate China and Russia.
4. Russia Russia is the second largest arms trading country globally by
value of exports and will exert a major influence in ATT negotiations.
Countries suppliedMain customers include India, Syria, Algeria, Myanmar,
Venezuela, Sudan and many African states. However, Russias arms industry
has been falling behind in key technologies and it is seeking sophisticated
partners and new markets for many products.Irresponsible transfersRussia has
supplied arms to several countries where they risk being used to commit
serious human rights violations. It does not publish arms export details,
but 10 per cent of all Russian arms exports are believed to go to Syria,
making it the countrys largest arms supplier. Transfers include missiles
and missile launchers, anti-tank missiles for the Russian-made T72 tank, and
MIG jet fighters jet aircraft. Russia also supplied AK-style assault rifles
to Libya under al-Gaddafi. Russia continues to supply helicopter gunships to
Sudan, where they have been used to attack civilians in Darfur and Southern
Kordofan.Stance on the ATTRussia, like China, appears not to want the treaty
to include binding rules on international human rights, international
humanitarian law and socio-economic development. Russian officials argue
that such rules are interpreted subjectively and ideologically. However,
Russia is already committed to the OSCE and Wassenaar Arrangement, both of
which contain principles to respect international human rights law and
international humanitarian law when considering arms transfers. Russia also
appears comfortable with the ATT covering a wide range of conventional arms
as in the Munitions List of the Wassenaar Arrangement. Russia believes the
focus should be on controlling trade to avoid diversion into the illicit
arms market but the details of its proposals and views on transparency
remain sketchy.
5. UK The UK consistently ranked third, fourth or fifth globally, along with
France and Germany, in terms of the annual value of its conventional arms
exports. Countries suppliedKey customers include the USA, India, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa and other NATO partners. It is also a major exporter to
other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in
sub-Saharan Africa. Irresponsible transfersGenerally supportive of strict
criteria for arms transfers, the UK has nonetheless supplied arms to
countries where there is a substantial risk that they could be used to
commit serious violations of human rights. For example, the UK supplied arms
to the Sri Lankan government knowing of its repression and UK national
legislation is being reviewed following evidence that the UK supplied small
arms, ammunition, munitions and armoured vehicle equipment to Libya under
al-Gaddafi as well as small arms to Bahrain and law enforcement equipment to
Yemen.Stance on the ATTIn 2005, the UK became the first major arms trading
power to support an Arms Trade Treaty covering human rights. With France it
helped establish the EU code that has now become the EU Common Position on
Arms Exports, the starting point for UK policy positions on the ATT. It also
co-authored various UN General Assembly resolutions between 2006 and 2009
leading to the current negotiations. The UK has generally supported the
Golden Rule and has progressive positions on the treatys scope and
implementation mechanisms (for example backing robust transparency
measures). However, as with France and Germany, if there is not a majority
of states pushing for strong rules, the UK could succumb to US pressure to
water down the treaty text on human rights protection in order to
accommodate China and Russia.
6. USA The United States is by far the worlds largest arms trader,
accounting for around 30 per cent of conventional arms transfers in terms of
value. Its position on the ATT is therefore key.Countries suppliedThe USA
supplies arms to more than 170 countries and has a mixed record of
suspending arms supplies on human rights grounds. For example, it has
restricted arms transfers to Myanmar, China, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in
addition to countries subject to UN arms embargoes. However, it has supplied
arms to other countries, for example Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen,
where there is a substantial risk that they could be used to commit of
facilitate serious human rights violations. Irresponsible transfersAs the
main arms supplier to Egypt, the US authorized the sale of small arms,
millions of rounds of ammunition and chemical agents for riot control,
despite the security forces violent crackdown on protesters. Yemen was also
supplied with small arms, chemical agents and armoured vehicles, and Bahrain
with small arms. It provides Colombias security forces with arms, military
aid and training, despite their persistent violations of human rights.
Stance on the ATTSince October 2009, when the Obama administration reversed
previous opposition to an ATT, US support has been crucial in getting to the
current negotiation stage. The US has said it wants the treaty to raise the
international standard for export control of armaments as close as possible
to that of the US. However, the US position is weaker on human rights
protection in the treaty than many of its allies. For example, US officials
have not wanted to include obligations on states to prohibit transfers of
arms even where there is credible evidence of their potential use for
serious violations of human rights. US officials have also argued against
including ammunition under the scope of the treaty, claiming it is too
sensitive and would pose technical problems of implementation. Overall, US
officials would prefer a short loose document that spells out general
principles to take into account rather than strong binding measures.
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni
katika machafuko"
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