08/10/2013 00:00
TW
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by RAY FLEMING
IT must be difficult for the leaders of the countries concerned to know how to react to the annual survey of arms sales to developing countries prepared by the US Congress. The most recent figures, released last week, show that the United States has held its position as the principal supplier of weapons to these countries, followed by Russia and then by Britain and France. The top buyers were Pakistan, India and Saudia Arabia. Not many international league tables of national performance ranks Britain ranks with the United States and Russia, so how does Gordon Brown feel about this particular achievement? Of course, there is the “employment” argument, often heard in relation to the Saudi contracts but just once a year it may be worth wondering whether concern for the abolition of poverty and social progress in the Third World can ever be reconciled with the vigorous pursuit of arms sales to countries where these problems persist.

A significant new trend noted by the survey is of sales to Venezuela by Russia, including 24 SU-fighter aircraft valued at one billion dollars and helicopters to the value of $700 million. At the same time, however, Russian sales to Iran have declined. The total value of arms sales in 2006 from the three leading suppliers was 40.3 billion dollars with the United States responsible for 36 per cent, Russia for 28 per cent and Britain for 11 per cent. There must be a better use for this money, surely?