Thursday, May 19, 2022
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

Belgian leaders mull suspension of Saudi arms sales

by Agence France-Presse
May 13, 2019
in Defense Geopolitics News
2 min read
0
Belgian leaders mull suspension of Saudi arms sales
21
SHARES
14
VIEWS

Belgian leaders are mulling the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, national broadcaster RTBF has said, after it was reported they had been used in Yemen.

Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told RTBF on Saturday: “I think it would be good to suspend arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia” if it were shown they had been used “in an ongoing conflict, such as in Yemen”, in which case, he said the regional Walloon Government “must” take that decision.

Belgium’s constitution places responsibility for such decisions on the producer region, in this case Wallonia, which owns the arms manufacturer FN Herstal.

Regional president Willy Borsus told RTBF it “could go as far as suspending existing arms export licences” if conditions under which they were granted had been violated.

Belgian newspaper Le Soir said on Wednesday an investigation showed Riyadh had used Belgian arms and technology in operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, where more than four years of fighting has killed tens of thousands of people, relief agencies say.

The fighting has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with 3.3 million people still displaced and 24.1 million – more than two-thirds of the population – in need of aid.

The issue of Saudi arms sales divides European governments, with French President Emmanuel Macron defending such sales on Thursday as part of “the fight against terrorism”.

Germany, however, suspended arms sales to Riyadh after the killing last year of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, posing a problem for European partners because it can affect weapons produced jointly.

A diplomatic source said the issue would be discussed on Monday by EU foreign ministers in Brussels, because Saudi Arabia is also backing Libyan rebel commander Khalifa Haftar in his bid to overthrow a government in Tripoli that is recognized by the EU.

The EU has committed to enforcing a UN arms embargo in Libya.

Tags: Arms salesbelgiamexportssaudi arabia
Previous Post

US seeks assurance of security for interests in Iraq amid wrangle with Iran

Next Post

US sends Patriots, warship to Middle East amid Iran tensions

Related Posts

Somali forces capture rebel stronghold

Biden reestablishes US troop presence inside Somalia

May 17, 2022

President Joe Biden has ordered the reestablishment of a US troop presence in Somalia to help local authorities combat the...

Chile redeploys army to restive southern region

Chile redeploys army to restive southern region

May 17, 2022

Chile ordered the redeployment of its military to the Araucania region in the south of the country Monday, in the...

Next Post
US sends Patriots, warship to Middle East amid Iran tensions

US sends Patriots, warship to Middle East amid Iran tensions

Latest Defense News

Somali forces capture rebel stronghold

Biden reestablishes US troop presence inside Somalia

May 17, 2022
Chile redeploys army to restive southern region

Chile redeploys army to restive southern region

May 17, 2022
Erdogan threatens to block NATO’s Baltic defence plan

Turkey ‘will not say yes’ to NATO membership for Sweden, Finland: Erdogan

May 17, 2022
Beijing accuses NATO of exaggerating ‘China threat theory’

Sweden enters ‘new era’ with NATO bid

May 17, 2022
PzH 2000 Self-propelled Howitzer

Germany to send self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine

May 6, 2022
Coronavirus challenges US military machine

Pentagon denies helping Ukraine ‘target’ Russian generals

May 6, 2022

Defense Forum Discussions

  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Royal New Zealand Navy Discussions and Updates
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Russian Air Force News & Discussion
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • Ukrainian - Russian War Memes.
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
  • US Army News and updates general discussion
  • NZDF General discussion thread
  • Indian Navy Discussions and Updates
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com