50 signatures reached
To: Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Ban UK arms sales to Turkey
Ban the export of arms to Turkey because of that country's military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria.
Why is this important?
Turkey's military action will disrupt the fragile stability of the region, harming and displacing thousands of civilians and paving the way for Isis to reestablish itself in the region. The EU states that military action is resulting in more civilians suffering and further displacement and severely hindering access to humanitarian assistance. A number of major European powers have unilaterally pledged to halt arms sales to Mr Erdogan’s government, including Germany, France and Finland. But the UK, one of the world’s largest arms exporters, is absent from the list. Dominic Raab, the UK’s foreign secretary, was absent from Monday's meeting (EU foreign affairs council meeting in Luxemburg 7.10.19).
The Financial Times reports "the UK has licensed £1.1bn worth of arms to Turkey since Mr Erdogan became president five years ago, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. These include £206m of licences for aircraft, helicopters and drones, £84m on armoured vehicles and tanks, and £82m on grenades bombs, missiles and countermeasures."
The Financial Times reports "the UK has licensed £1.1bn worth of arms to Turkey since Mr Erdogan became president five years ago, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. These include £206m of licences for aircraft, helicopters and drones, £84m on armoured vehicles and tanks, and £82m on grenades bombs, missiles and countermeasures."
