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UK continues to provision Israel’s F-35 fighter aircraft despite finding Israel at clear risk of breaking international law
The UK has suspended 30 of the 350 currently extant licences for exports to Israel but continues to allow the most problematic of UK arms exports, components for F-35 fighter aircraft, which have been at the heart of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
3 September 2024
Blog
The real-world costs of cutting the Arms Trade Treaty process
2024 will mark ten years since the Arms Trade Treaty entered into force. But while getting the words agreed on paper is one thing; the bigger challenge comes after: making sure the Treaty makes a difference in the real world.
25 May 2023
Blog
Weapons for peace? What to expect in 2021 from the EU’s new ‘peace facility’
Civil society organisations have long argued against the EPF, as recent history suggests that providing weapons and ammunition to security forces in fragile states is more likely to exacerbate than solve local and regional conflicts.
11 January 2021
Blog
Running on the spot: The Sixth Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty
With COVID-19 creating havoc for all manner of international processes, the Sixth Conference of States Parties of the Arms Trade Treaty limited itself to a ‘conference by written procedure’, intended to do little more than keep things ticking over. In this it largely succeeded, but a pre-COVID-19 trend to less transparency seemed to accelerate over the year, writes Roy Isbister.
28 August 2020
Comment & analysis
The UK’s arms-to-Saudi quagmire: from tragedy to farce
Despite a June court decision barring the UK Government from approving arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the UK’s International Trade Secretary has admitted to granting two licences in violation of the ruling. Roy Isbister argues that this is yet another example of how the current UK system is fundamentally flawed.
20 September 2019
Blog
‘Nothing to see here’: UK’s response to court ruling on arms sales to Saudi Arabia raises doubts about its willingness to fix problems
The landmark ruling from the Court of Appeal on the UK government’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia undermines UK claims that its arms exports are not at risk of fuelling serious violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen. Now the government needs to honour the spirit as well as the letter of that ruling, says Roy Isbister.
26 June 2019
Blog
Arms Trade Treaty report card for 2018: must try harder
Reflecting on the fourth Conference of States Parties of the Arms trade Treaty, Elizabeth Kirkham and Roy Isbister note that despite some progress, there are reasons to be concerned about the treaty’s long-term health.
31 October 2018
Comment & analysis
The beginning of the end? European arms exports for the Yemen war
As an increasing number of European states re-evaluate arms sales that could be used in the conflict in Yemen, will others follow suit?
1 March 2018
Comment & analysis
Much ado about nothing? Reflections on the third ATT Conference of States Parties
The third annual Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty provided a largely familiar tale of frustration and disappointment.
20 September 2017