dinsdag 22 mei 2018

Week 20 in #wapenhandel25tweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.
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Netherlands / Nederland (see also 15)

1 – 210518: 15 Dutch arms export denials in 2017 on Bahrain, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Broekstukken: Arms Export Denials (Dutch: weigeringen) 2010-2017 http://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/04/arms-export-denials-dutch-weigeringen.html

2 – 180518: Dutch annual arms export control 2017 [in Dutch] on website of Netherlands Government to download. (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2018/05/17/het-nederlandse-wapenexportbeleid-in-2017)

3 – 210518: #Raytheon got a $77m contract for Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 development & production of #ESSM Block 2 missiles. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (61%); Thales Hengelo, #Netherlands (9%); Ottobrunn, Germany (6%); etc. Who will buy them? https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1525992/

4 – 160518: The Netherlands' defence ministry has outlined its plans to remanufacture the nation's current fleet of 28 Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, with the goal of operating the updated type until 2050. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/netherlands-targets-apache-remanufacturing-deal-448592/

5 – 140518: Dutch export of naval C3 equipment to Egypt by undisclosed company (= Thales Nederland). Value € 9.542.939,82. For OH Perry class in Egyptian navy. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2018/05/14/kamerbrief-over-vergunning-voor-export-militair-materieel-naar-egypte

EUROPE

6 – 170518: Retweet @PWezeman - 2018 reporting by Arms Trade Treaty members has started. Italy first major exporter to report its arms exports in 2017. But only includes total numbers and not who received the stuff! http://www.thearmstradetreaty.org/images/Annual_Reports_2017/Italy_Annual_Report_2017P.pdf

Romania and Slovenia also reported. But with lot's of details. Like Romania exported 9 rifles to Italy, 20,000 assault rifles to Iraq and 702 grenade launchers to Saudi http://www.thearmstradetreaty.org/images/Annual_Reports_2017/Romania_Annual_Report_2017P.pdf

7 – 170518: The real question is not whether Europeans are pissed off but whether they will do anything in response to Trump’s actions. The answer is most likely no. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/europe/2018-05-15/why-trump-can-safely-ignore-europe

Germany / Deutchland (see 9)
Italy / Italia (zie 6)

Spain / España
8 – 150518: Spain beats its own record with €4.3 billion in weapons exports https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/05/15/inenglish/1526369634_710320.html

Romania (see 6)

Turkey / Türkiye (see also 1)

9 – 150518: Turkey used German spy software on opposition politicians and activists http://www.dw.com/en/turkey-used-german-spy-software-on-opposition-politicians-and-activists/a-43787769

10 – 150518: Turkey remains a "priority market" for British weapons, despite concerns from human rights groups and EU officials over the erosion of the country's rule of law. http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/revealed-boom-uk-arms-exports-turkey-eve-erdogans-london-visit-1561968969

UK (see 10, 16)

11 – 170518: An activist protesting Bristol arms companies explains why they are putting names and stories to the victims of the arms trade: "We wanted to show that the casualties from the Bristol arms industry aren’t faceless." https://thebristolcable.org/2018/05/voices-why-were-shouting-the-names-of-kurdish-fighters-from-the-rooftops-of-arms-companies/

12 – 160518: We went to an arms company AGM. Here’s how they justify profiting from war. https://www.redpepper.org.uk/we-went-to-an-arms-company-agm-heres-how-they-justify-profiting-from-war/ from @redpeppermag

13 – 160518: As unarmed demonstrators in #Gaza are targeted by Israeli snipers, remember: in 2017, the UK Government approved £216 million in arms sales to Israel, including sniper rifles. http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-uk-sells-more-500m-arms-israel-including-sniper-rifles-718473139

Australia

14 – 160518: This how it goes: Australia is in the middle of a defence boom ($89bn for naval vessels). Perhaps predictably, it has quickly transformed into an industry boondoggle designed to protect jobs, particularly political jobs. http://www.afr.com/opinion/editorials/defence-procurements-purpose-cant-be-to-protect-political-jobs-20180515-h1032a

Bahrain / Al-Bahrayn (see 1)
China / Zhōngguó (see 1)

Egypt / Mişr (see also 5)

15 – 140518: According to the Dutch government the Egyptian navy there is no (often reported e.g. https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2018/1/10/the-international-communitys-whitewashing-of-yemen) maritime blockade against Yemen (this is enforced in harbour and air fields). The Egyptian navy is only involved in controlling the UN arms embargo. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/kamerstukken/2018/05/14/kamerbrief-over-vergunning-voor-export-militair-materieel-naar-egypte/kamerbrief-over-vergunning-voor-export-militair-materieel-naar-egypte.pdf

Iraq / Al-'Iraq (see 6)

Israël / Isra'il (see also 13)

16 – 160518: "Assault rifles. Sniper rifles. Components for aircraft. Ammunition. That is just a small selection of the export licences granted by this government to British firms to sell to Israel last year," Caroline Lucas began. Caroline_Lucas_takes_UK_Government_to_task_over_arms_sales_to_Israel/

Mexico / México

17 – 170518: 70% of the weapons recovered from crime scenes in Mexico were purchased in the US, the international human rights organization Global Exchange stated, expressing opposition to a proposal by the Donald Trump government to facilitate the export of armament. http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2018/05/16/politica/019n4pol

18 – 150518: Heckler & Koch's trial over an illegal deal with Mexico is about to begin in Stuttgart. The Oberndorf company has flooded the world's conflict zones with guns, most famously the G3 and the G36 assault rifles. http://www.dw.com/en/how-a-german-gunmaker-became-one-of-the-worlds-deadliest/a-43776224

Pakistan / Pākistān (see 1)

Panama

19 – 140518: Damen Stan Lander 5612 vessel commissioned into Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval on 10 May. The Presidente Manuel Amador Guerrero (L-403), costed US$16m. It came to Panama from Vietnam, suggesting that it was manufactured in Damen’s Song Cam Shipyard. http://www.janes.com/article/80054/panama-commissions-new-stan-lander-5612

Qatar

20 – 160518: How the Netherlands is involved in arming #Qatar. Leonardo remains confident it can finalise a contract with Qatar for 28 NH Industries NH90s before year-end. #Leonardo Heli's is part of the NHI consortium, along with #Airbus Helicopters and #Fokker. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/leonardo-still-working-to-finalise-qatar-nh90-order-448422/

Russia / Rossija

21 – 170518: Army leaders explain why Russia's tiny defense budget is a big threat, but forget to mention Russian armed forces are not able to fill its ranks just because of poor working standards and low payments. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/army-leaders-explain-why-russias-tiny-defense-budget-is-a-big-threat

Saudi Arabia / Al-Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah (see 1, 6)

South Africa

22 – 160518: Denel CEO Zwelakhe Ntshepe resigned from the state-owned arms manufacturer yesterday, just weeks after Gordhan ordered an investigation into how Ntshepe allegedly authorised a R1.1m guarantee for embattled North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo's son. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/denels-chief-resigns-as-gordhan-forges-ahead-with-restoring-credibility-14993868

Taiwan / Táiwān (see 1)
UAE / Al-Imarat Al-Arabiyah Al-Muttahidah (see 1)
Ukraine / Ukrajina (see 1)
Vietnam / Việt Nam (see 1, 19)
Yemen / Al-Yaman (see 15)

DEFENCE-INDUSTRY
Damen (see 19)
Fokker (see 20)
Thales (see 3)

WEAPENS
Drones

23 – 170518: Drone Wars UK new report 'Drone Wars: The Next Generation' shows the rise in the number of states deploying armed #drones - latest on Drone Wars UK: https://dronewars.net/2018/05/17/new-research-shows-rise-in-number-of-states-deploying-armed-drones/

24 – 170518: Google Employees Are Quitting in Protest of Pentagon Contract for Drones, Report Says https://www.christianpost.com/news/google-employees-are-quitting-in-protest-of-pentagon-contract-for-drones-report-says-224051/

Observation technology (IT) (see 9)
Small Arms (see 17-18)

OTHER

Corruption (see 22)
Defence budget (see 21)

Refugees

25 – 170518: Where would you mark EU's border? Would it include Bangladesh? The hidden story of how Europe is exporting militarised borders worldwide http://www.tni.org/expandingfortresseurope

Research and activism (see also 12, 24)

26 – 160518: The iron fist of government lurking behind the invisible hand is itself not so free market oriented. Use by the Department of Defense of Indefinite-Delivery Contracts from Fiscal Years 2015 through 2017. https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-412R

27 – 160518: #CRS report on #AI. Analysts hold a range of opinions on how influential AI will be in future combat operations. A large number of experts believe that AI will have at least an evolutionary if not revolutionary effect. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R45178.pdf

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