Week 44 in #wapenhandel25tweets

Tweets below YouTube

 

Video: Introduction by @WendelaVries (@StopWapenhandel) on Global and Dutch Military Expenditures, weapon acquisitions, the defence industry, and letterbox companies in just 10 minutes [in Dutch]

Netherlands / Nederland (see also 15, 16, 17, 21)

1 – 291018: On Dutch arms export policy towards KSA & why the Netherlands isn't in favour of an arms embargo, but of an very restrictive case by case approach. Saudi tanks with Thales combat communication no problem. Components for larger systems aren't even mentioned https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/politiek/relatie-van-nederland-met-saudi-arabie-blijft-een.3169531.lynkx

2 – 291018: Director of Dutch Oxfam Novib and former Dutch Labour MP @michielservaes praises Dutch arms export policy on KSA (he and others introduced), but protests investments by Life Assurance Companies in defence companies enabling the war in Yemen. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/10/25/wrang-oorlog-in-jemen-als-investering-a2752771

3 – 301018: Nederlandse export naar Saudi-Arabië grijs gebied /via @NOS https://nos.nl/artikel/2257064-nederlandse-export-naar-saudi-arabie-grijs-gebied.html

4 – 311018: Parliament informed somewhere in between Dutch government has dropped UUV/AUV possibility to replace diesel subs. Parliament will be informed in the formal way next year. Materiel Project Overview: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/rapporten/2018/09/18/materieelprojectenoverzicht-defensie-2018/Materieelprojectenoverzicht+Defensie+2018.pdf

List of Q&A materiel: https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-859899.pdf

5 – 041118: Netherlands explores Reaper drone co-operation with Italy | Jane's 360 https://www.janes.com/article/84209/netherlands-explores-reaper-co-operation-with-italy

6 – 051118: In September unstable Guatemala gets over a million bullets of different types (.45 COLT, .38 SPEC, .22 HORNET, 7X57 MM, .32 S&W, 7,62X25 MM, .44 MAG, .357 SIG, 9 MM LUGER etc.) exported by Czechia by boat from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-doorvoer-militaire-goederen

Datum aanvraag	Aantal	Goederen omschrijving	Kaliber	land van		Vervoer	Plaats van uitgang
				herkomst	bestemming
14-9-18	1.000	kogelpatronen	.30-M1	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	3.000	kogelpatronen	.45 Colt	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	2.000	kogelpatronen	.357 Mag	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	6.000	kogelpatronen	10 mm auto	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	25.000	kogelpatronen	.38 Spec	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	4.000	kogelpatronen	.308 Win	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	1.200	kogelpatronen	.270 Win	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	3.600	kogelpatronen	.22 Hornet	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	2.000	kogelpatronen	7X57 mm	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	500	kogelpatronen	.243 Win	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	6.000	kogelpatronen	.410	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	1.500	kogelpatronen	.32 S&W	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	1.500	kogelpatronen	7,62X25 mm	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	1.200	kogelpatronen	.44 MAG	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	3.000	kogelpatronen	.357 SIG	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	980.000	kogelpatronen	9 mm Luger	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	10.000	kogelpatronen	.380 ACP	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	70.000	kogelpatronen	.40 S&W	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	15.000	kogelpatronen	.223 Rem	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	6.000	kogelpatronen	6,35 mm	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	10.000	kogelpatronen	.45 ACP	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
14-9-18	1.000	kogelpatronen	.45 GAP	Tsjechië	Guatemala	Boot	Rotterdam
Totaal	1.153.500
Bron: http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-doorvoer-militaire-goederen

7 – 301018: Belgium is in negotiations to purchase a pair of the notorious medium-altitude, long-endurance Reaper drones (MQ-9B Sky Guardian unmanned air vehicles), most likely to be unarmed. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/belgium-lines-up-predator-acquisition-453022/

8 – 011118: Belgium opposition lawmakers are demanding that the administration of liberal Prime Minister Charles Michel answer questions after a public broadcaster this week linked the payments from the Libyan accounts in Brussels to arms shipments. https://www.politico.eu/article/pressure-mounts-on-belgian-government-over-libya-payments/

9 – 291018: Export constraints emerge as sticking point for future German-French combat aircraft. Really? Thee EFA/Typhoon is sold by BAES to controversial countries in the MENA-region, this is a potential - unwanted - solution for the FCAS as well. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/28/export-constraints-emerge-as-sticking-point-for-future-german-french-combat-aircraft-report/

10 – 301018: Yemen war must stop, French defence minister says, but violence against the Yemen people has nothing to do with French arms, she adds. "We don't sell weapons like they're baguettes."https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/10/30/yemen-war-must-stop-french-defence-minister-says

11 – 291018: Number of Irish people sign to show renewed support for the Palestinian call for a military embargo on the state of Israel, including an end to the bilateral arms trade between Ireland and the apartheid state. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/israel-and-arms-trade-1.3678396

12 – 011118: Opposition to relaxing Swiss arms export regulations won. Swiss backtrack on selling weapons to conflict states. https://www.thelocal.ch/20181031/swiss-backtrack-on-selling-weapons-to-conflict-statesvia @TheLocalSwitzer

13 – 311018: Clear argumentation why a arms embargo is a must! How the murder of Jamal Khashoggi finally put the spotlight on UK arms sales and the war in Yemen https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/jamal-khashoggi-murder-saudi-arabia-yemen-civil-war-uk-arms-sales-criticism-a8610076.html

REST of the world

14 – 011118: Trump administration calls for an urgent halt to the Saudi-Iran [a US political description] proxy war in Yemen and the start of negotiations in November toward a political settlement. US military supports KSA Yemen air campaign. https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2018/10/31/mattis-and-pompeo-call-for-yemen-cease-fire-political-talks/

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY

Foto: Martin Broek

15 – 291018: Defect at fire extinguishing system Dutch Holland Class corvettes result of faillures at MoD, Damen (DSNS) and Classificaton Buro NV-GL. Netherlands State will pay all costs (€ 4 million), because juridical steps conclude in a positive more result. https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-859917.pdf

16 – 051118: A Coast Guard for a country without money [in Dutch] The ins and outs of a controversial contract. (see also http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/01/roemeense-scheepsbouw-deel-9-serie-over.html) Een kustwacht verkopen aan een land zonder geld https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/11/02/een-kustwacht-voor-een-land-zonder-geld-a2753714

17 – 051118: The Netherlands has pledged its support to the South African maritime sector this week, with the Netherlands Consulate General and Damen Shipyards Cape Town hosting a Maritime Day. http://disq.us/t/37yfa0u

18 – 291018: European missile producer MBDA secures contract for Saudi navy's four F 2000S Madina-class frigates to be refitted remotely-controlled SIMBAD-RC weapon station. https://www.janes.com/article/84113/simbad-rc-selected-for-retrofit-to-saudi-frigates

WEAPENS

19 – 291018: Oped Mysterious New Zealand Defence 'forum' an insult to democracy. Why does the Defence Industry Association use the word 'forum' which the dictionary defines as a meeting place "for open discussion of subjects of public interest"? https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/108133586/mysterious-defence-forum-an-insult-to-democracy

20 – 011018: #2022WC Football/soccer is business not only for sportwear, also for security/repression equipment. Milipol Qatar hosts hundreds of companies hoping to sign defence and intelligence contracts for World Cup 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/hundreds-security-firms-vie-contracts-qatar-convention-181031065725792.html

21 – 301018: Blog with Predator/Reaper overview. https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/10/reaper-drones-dutch-air-force-and-fokker.html

Also version in Dutch: http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/11/dodelijke-reaper-drones-en-fokker.html

22 – 050118: Next step in expanding role of F-35B and Expeditionary Strike Group in war preparations. http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=123093#.W-AmC-_69jY.twitter

23 – 291018: The expansion of SIPRI’s database for mapping arms transfer and #SALW control capacity-building efforts to cover the Middle East and North Africa is continuing with the addition of new activities. See the activities and upload here: http://www.att-assistance.org/?page_id=49

OTHER

24 – 041118: #Northrop bit the hand which feeds it, that of the US government. Department of Justice forces $30M from Northrop for #fraudulent costs https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/11/02/department-of-justice-forces-30m-from-northrop-for-fraudulent-costs/

25 – 041118: Amnesty 'Die in' against irresponsible French arms exports to fuel war in Yemen. https://twitter.com/Sarah_Roussel/status/1059059667513606144

This is a selection from a larger amount of tweets. Tweets with a relation the Netherlands, arms trade and defence-industry weight heavier in the selection. If you want to have them daily see http://twitter.com/martinbroek