Latest on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
July 4
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It does not harm the population, it harms the war itself. However sanctions on Russia's arms makers and tycoons have been applied inconsistently by NATO allies CEOs at a host of Russian weapons firms have largely escaped sanctions from Western authorities. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-02/dozens-of-russian-weapons-tycoons-have-faced-no-western-sanction/101203146
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The world upside down:
An investigation by German media has uncovered a #lawsuit filed by #Heckler & Koch against a subordinate office of the economy ministry. The arms maker complained about the lack of export licenses for #Saudi Arabia
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/report-arms-maker-sued-germany-over-saudi-arabia-exports-license/a-18815794
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https://www.regionoordkop.nl/04/07/2022/geen-veerdienst-door-protestacties-boeren-en-vissers/
Vredesactivisten werden meestal weggesleept bij een dergelijke betoging tegen oorlogsdeelname of kernwapens.
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IISS-blog on NATO Strategic Concept notes a disappearance of arms control. It blames the selective implementation of such regimes by Russia for that, but fully misses that the Bush jr. neocon Administration started the erosion by ending the ABM-treaty. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2022/06/the-new-nato-strategic-concept-and-the-end-of-arms-control
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‘Defensie heeft momentum en jast nu zoveel mogelijk materieel door het parlement’
Dutch Ministry of Defence tries to rush big armament programs through Parliament.
Is there a rational behind it?
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/07/03/defensie-heeft-momentum-en-jast-nu-zoveel-mogelijk-materieel-door-het-parlement-a4135420
July 3
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Art the Arms Fair: how can design play a role in nurturing peace. 40 tangible ways designers can advocate for peace. https://www.fastcompany.com/90765781/40-tangible-ways-designers-can-advocate-for-peace
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In the first 6 months of 2022, the German government issued licences for the export of military equipment worth €4.14, significantly more than in the same period of 2021 when it was €2.3 bn. The no. 1 was the Netherlands, ahead of Ukraine, the US & UK. https://www.ad-hoc-news.de/boerse/news/ueberblick/berlin-die-bundesregierung-hat-in-den-ersten-sechs-monaten-des-jahres/62839753
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This is how the deal for #NATO membership between #Finland, #Sweden and #Trurkey is ragarded by a major Indian TV news provider. "The Western world and brazen #hypocrisy are no strangers, but this new low really takes the cake."https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/as-nato-capitulates-before-turkey-western-hypocrisy-on-human-rights-enters-new-low-5477755.html
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A key player in #China's plans to develop spacecraft and missiles has opened a Beijing laboratory.
The #CASIC, which was sanctioned by the US for unspecified "missile technology proliferation activities" in January, made the announcement on Friday. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3183911/mystery-over-purpose-china-aerospace-science-and-industry
July 2
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And the winner is? Arms race inside NATO. Turkey and Greece want to strengthen their Lockheed Martin fighter inventories against each other. https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2022/07/02/even-if-turkey-gets-modernized-f-16s-greece-will-still-have-a-technological-edge-in-airpower/
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US lawmakers sponsor arms monitor bill. It requires US Government to submit a report to Congress before March 1, 2023, listing the approved sales of US military products worth US$25m to Taiwan, Japan, S. Korea, Australia & New Zealand not fully delivered. https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202207020008
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Rather than an alliance with the UAE and Saudi Arabia that could draw the US into a future conflict (...) the Biden administration should focus on rescuing the Iran nuclear deal – known formally as JCPOA – and bringing a conclusive end to the war in Yemen. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhartung/2022/06/30/bidens-mideast-agenda-could-increase-the-risks-of-war/?sh=73d4a0756672
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#KMW (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) en #DEFENTURE hebben hun samenwerking versterkt met een MoU rond het LuLa-systeem. Dat moet de bestaande voertuigen van de #luchtlandingstroepen vervangen en maakt deel uit van het speciale fonds van € 100 miljard. https://www.dutchdefencepress.com/defenture-en-kmw-gaan-samenwerken-in-nederlands-duitse-lula-project/
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Shift from Russian-made weapons from neighbours to Western developed weaponry (here Norwegian Kongsberg/US Raytheon air defence system and more. US to send Ukraine advanced NASAMS air defense weapons in $820 million package. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/07/01/us-to-send-ukraine-advanced-nasams-air-defense-weapons-in-820-million-package/
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Petrostates' wealth props up the global arms trade, provides diplomatic leverage, and allows them to support violent and nonviolent proxies. In Oil, the State, and War, Emma Ashford explores the many potential links between thiose issues. http://press.georgetown.edu/book/georgetown/oil-state-and-war
July 1
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An arms lobbyist from Lebanon repeatedly sent gifts to German politicians - including the then Foreign Minister Steinmeier. At the same time, the businessman was involved in an arms deal involving Rheinmetall and Thyssen-Krupp.
Retweet @hmtillack: Arms lobbyist and arms dealer Ahmad El Husseini, well known to Gerhard #Schröder and other SPD grandees , played a central role in the deal . I researched the case with @frederikrichter @UlrichStoll1 in 2019 https://stern.de/politik/deutschland/frank-walter-steinmeier-stand-auf-empfaengerliste-fuer-teure-praesentkoerbe-8920418.html
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No arms trade, but arms for free. Swedish ambassador to Czechia Jörgensen said in an interview that Czech can keep the Gripens that it leased from Sweden for free. Czechia is looking into buying 24 fighters as the lease for the Gripens will expire in 2027. https://defenseindustrydaily.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=329658425751766a1111efa05&id=2a372301ff&e=81b1f72c1a
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CRS report: US Security Assistance to Ukraine. Types of weapons and financial value listed.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22076079/report-to-congress-on-us-security-assistance-to-ukraine.pdf
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Retweet @Antiwarcom: Pentagon Agency Wants to Send Weapons Inspectors to Ukraine There is currently no oversight of the billions of dollars in weapons being sent to Ukraine by Dave DeCamp @DecampDave https://news.antiwar.com/2022/06/30/pentagon-agency-wants-to-send-weapons-inspectors-to-ukraine/
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Waarom we als klimaatbeweging moeten opkomen voor de vrede https://dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2022/06/29/waarom-we-als-klimaatbeweging-moeten-opkomen-voor-de-vrede/
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Dutch TNO has been arming the armed forces with knowledge for the front line for 75 years. With lessons from the war in Ukraine e.g. https://www.rd.nl/artikel/981473-tno-wapent-krijgsmacht-met-kennis
#TNO wapent de krijgsmacht al 75 jaar met kennis voor de frontlinie. Met lessen uit de oorlog in Oekraïne bijvoorbeeld.
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#ILA arms fair full of contradictions:
- war vs sustainability
- destruction vs art
- steel vs aesthetics
- profits vs waste
- fighter planes for vistors to take a snapshot as a souvenir vs the last thing some people saw when innocent lives were ended.
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Overal in Europa spuiten de militaire-uitgaven omhoog. In Kiel gaat het crescendo met #ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, bouwer van oorlogsschepen en #onderzeeërs. De ‘nationale kampioen’ van #Duitsland aast op een order van 4 onderzeeërs voor Nederland. https://fd.nl/economie/1443783/miljardenorder-uit-nederland-kan-kers-op-de-taart-zijn-voor-duitse-bouwer-van-oorlogsschepen
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And the winners are (not the diplomats): Changed attitude to security in Europe will mean increased demand for the US from its allies for integrated missile defences, early warning systems, missiles, intelligence, etc. a senior US defense official said. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/06/30/european-arms-demand-grows-as-russia-fallout-deepens/
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South Korean president used the NATO summit to advance arms deals to Poland and probably also to Australia. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/06/113_331917.html
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Earlier this month Defense News reported: Turkey seeks to repair ties with Western procurement club. It included a table with major Turkish weapons purchases from 2012-2021. (Include: Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain, etc) https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/06/06/turkey-seeks-to-repair-ties-with-western-procurement-club/
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Turkish President Erdogan told a news conference at the close of the NATO summit that the signing of the accession protocol next Tuesday “is not a quick process." Sweden and Finland "have to change their own laws" and extradite 73 people to Turkey. https://www.campuslately.com/nato-expands-but-erdogan-threatens-to-veto-again/
NATO has its nuisance within.
Turkey’s Erdoğan threatens to derail Nato enlargement again
President’s insistence on extradition of 73 prisoners at odds with text of accord with Sweden and Finland.
https://www.ft.com/content/00699aa3-ebbd-4e95-abe5-0d05ca10fa93
“We are not changing our legislation in Finland. Sweden is not changing its legislation. We agreed on some cooperation between our authorities, but we are following our own laws regarding human rights,” Finish Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto said.
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/06/30/finland-hasnt-received-deportation-lists-from-turkey-says-minister
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A good read: on arms to Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and the contradiction in Western military thinking, arguing at the one hand we need more military expenditures to stop Russia arms forces invading and on the other consider incapable of controlling Ukraine. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/e/who-really-banking-war-west-or-russians-defence-spending-paints-compelling-picture
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Thales in the spotlight for failing ethics and doing wrong in Yemen and Ukraine. https://www.thenational.wales/news/20247935.ukrainian-mp-accuses-welsh-government-partner-thales-supplying-russia-arms/
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1/2 Ukraine War: While Some Countries Take a Moral Stance, Israel Expects an Arms Bonanza
Moral considerations must be a part of arms deals, warns an Israeli rabbi who advocates for transparency – as Israel set a record in weapons sales last year. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-06-30/ty-article/.premium/ukraine-war-while-some-countries-take-a-moral-stance-israel-expects-an-arms-bonanza/00000181-b53b-da42-abdd-b73fac920000
2/2 “But what’s our interest in Myanmar? What justified supplying weapons to a murderous regime? (...) I can’t imagine what justified selling Israeli arms to them a few months before the massacres began."