The UK Government is keen for the UK to be established as the world’s second largest arms exporter, an accolade for which we are competing alongside Russia, China and France [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/541330/20160727_-_Official_Statistics_-_UKTI_DSO_Core_Slides_for_2015_-_Final_Version.pdf. The huge Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair, held every two years, plays a significant role in this. The arms fair is heavily supported by the UK Government. Involving 35,000 people, brings together arms companies and weapons buyers from all over the world, including from some of the world’s most oppressive regimes.
For some Christians the DSEI arms fair has long been a subject of protest, as has the Government’s use of UK taxpayer’s money to provide subsidies to UK arms exporters.
DSEI 2019
In 2019, the DSEI arms fair will be held at the ExCeL centre London in September. Many christians, and people of other faiths, will be protesting under the banner of No Faith in War on 3rd September.
You can read our updated briefing on the arms trade here:
Revd Mark Meatcher, a URC minister in the North Enfield group of churches, will be joining the faith protest on 3rd September. Read his guest blog here.
Good For Us?
Is UK foreign policy up for sale? Read our briefings exploring the Arms Trade.
Good For Us: The UK Arms Industry
You can read a summary of the briefing here:
Blogs
50 Years of Continuous At Sea Deterrence: What is there to celebrate? – April 2019
Following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi the UK must halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia – November 2018
Not Guilty – October 2017
“UK Foreign policy available to the highest bidder” Peter Oborne – August 2017