-
Report: UK sell weapons to third countries then criticize them for human rights abuses

Sputnik reported that a new report has once again demonstrated double standards on part of the British government when it comes to trade with foreign countries. human rights
According to an analysis conducted by the London-based Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), between 2011-2020 the UK sold over $20 billion of arms and military equipment to third countries it has itself criticized over allegations of human rights violations, while they have also been subjected to arms embargoes and other forms of restrictions.
These countries include Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia, featured in the 30 Human Rights Priority Countries list, published by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office in November 2020, which makes them eligible for the UK's Global Human Rights ('Magnitsky') sanctions regime. These measures are claimed by the Brits to be necesssary for holding "abusers" accountable for their actions and to encourage foreign governments to "meet their international human rights obligations".
Apparently, when it comes to billions in trade and geopolitical interests, the UK government permits itself to ignore its own claims. As such, 21 out of these 30 alleged abusers have received weapons and military hardware from the UK, while 58 out of 73 countries subject to restrictions by the Department for International Trade (DIT) have received military equipment from London.
Weapons sold by the United Kingdom have not simply sat idle, being actively used in such conflict regions as Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Houthi rebels since 2015: more than half of the military aircraft licensed to the Saudis has in fact been used in Yemen.
"Right now, UK-made weapons are playing a devastating role in Yemen and around the world. The arms sales that are being pushed today could be used in atrocities and abuses for years to come", Andrew Smith of the CAAT told the Guardian, echoing rising calls from British activists to end arms trade with the Saudi Kingdom.
Simultaneously, this spring, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under fire when the opposition pressured him to explain why the government decided to cut its humanitarian aid to Yemen while continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. And in June, ex-Labor leader Jeremy Corbin called in the UK government to cease arms trade with Israel, saying that British weapons are "killing children abroad".
Back in January, Murray Jones of Action on Armed Violence said that the UK's arms sales demonstrate what he called "a systemic failure to consider the human rights record of states before exporting weapons to them".
Boris Johnson has argued that the UK has been "scrupulously" following the consolidated international guidance on arms sales. human rights
Source: Sputnik
Image source: AFP-Sputnik
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!