British Arms Sales Shooting Up: The Repressive States Buying UK Weaponry

Under the deal, signed by Prime Minister May during a state visit to Turkish capital Ankara over the weekend of January 28/29, UK defense manufacturer BAE Systems will construct TF-X fighter jets for the Turkish military.

Official channels were quick to spin the deal as a demonstration of Britain's ability to forge new economic relationships with foreign countries once it secedes from the European Union. Conversely, detractors have branded it yet another example of the UK government cosying up to repressive regimes in search of lucre, particularly in light of President Erdogan's sweeping post-coup crackdown that has seen 125,000 sacked or suspended from their jobs, 40,000 arrested and several media outlets closed.

In 2016, UK Trade & Investments statistics showed Britain had sold more arms than China, France or Russia over the past decade. The report boasted that the UK was now "one of the world's most successful defense exporters" whilst "averaging second place in the global rankings on a rolling ten-year basis."

Many of the purchasers have highly questionable human rights records. CAAT figures reveal Britain has sold arms to 39 of the 51 countries ranked "not free" in Freedom in the World rankings, and 22 of the 30 countries on the UK Government's own human rights watch list.

Andrew Smith, a spokesperson for CAAT, says the UK has "consistently armed some of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the world."

"Last week we saw Theresa May in Turkey where, despite the deterioration of human rights, she agreed to sell £100 million [US$125m] worth of arms to the Erdogan regime. The message it sends to the Turkish government is one of uncritcal support, but the message it sends to those locked up and tortured in the crackdown is that their human rights are of less consequences than profits for BAE Systems," Smith told Sputnik.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been the largest overall recipient of British munitions, with receipts totalling US$11,270,288,639 since 2008.

CAAT lists over 700 separate items that have been purchased. These arms have primarily been used by Saudi Arabia in support of Yemen's government in a brutal war against Houthi rebels, which has claimed the lives of over 10,000, and brought the country to the brink of destruction. 

Critics say the sales to Saudi "violate the UK's international obligations."

Oman

Oman has been a comparatively modest purchaser, spending US$1,260,931,443 since 2008, although almost 1,100 separate items have been bought

However, the UK's military relationship with Oman runs far deeper than weapons exports, and dates back to the days of Empire, when the country was the gateway to India.

In 2016, the Royal Family visited the country, and the government reaffirmed its commitment to building a new military base in Oman to accommodate one the UK's two new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers.

That year, the UK also began establishing a permanent training facility in the country, to boost the infantry training it provides to the Omani military. It will see 45 infantry training teams dispatched to Oman.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has spent US$766,989,948 on British arms since 2008, although over a quarter of that total has been spent since 2015.

Arms spending by the UAE in this period reflects a renewed policy of military modernization. The country was the fourth-largest arms importer globally in 2016. It is particularly investing in fighter jets, anti-missile systems and homeland security capabilities. 

BAE Systems, the third largest arms manufacturer in the world and the biggest UK-headquartered arms company, has been more than happy to oblige despite the country's authoritarianism and disregard for human rights.