So the Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) has kicked up a bit of a fuss today about ‘arms’ exports to Russia.
It’s worth understanding some of the basics of defence exports and addressing some the myths, spin and propaganda pushed by the CAEC.
1. It’s not ‘arms’. It’s ‘defence’.
You can tell the CAEC have a bias by their name. To suggest that all defence-related sales are part of the ‘arms trade’ is nonsense. The Prime Minister is involved in supporting defence exports, and he is clearly not an ‘arms trader’.
2. Needing an Export Licence doesn’t mean its a military or defence product,
Not all exports require export licences. Range Rovers exported to Russia don’t have to get an export licence. But plenty bits of kit do.
For example, exporting software for semiconductor manufacturing processes so academics can test hot embossing processes for medicinal polymers requires a licence. As does cryptography software to upgrade 2G & 3G mobile systems. So too imaging cameras for the microscopes needed to investigate biological fluorescents.
I haven’t cherry-picked these examples. The end-use for about 35 of the CAEC’s 285 export licences are academics.
Most are for commercial use, but because of the potentially sensitive nature of the technology, the UK prefers to have an export licencing regime that rightly requires companies to justify the use and end-user of the export.
And yes, we did export military equipment too. Things like body armour, navigation systems for military aircraft and infrared imaging. But in March those items had their licences revoked.
3. Just because an export licence hasn’t been revoked, doesn’t mean the UK is exporting arms to Russia.
As the CAEC know well, anything that hasn’t had its licence revoked doesn’t have a potential military use. The sniper rifle licences that are still open are for hunting in the wilds of Siberia. The smaller arms go to British protection and security teams (as the CAEC evidence states).
4. Defence exports to Russia are tiny.
The value of the export licences outstanding are less than 1% of all defence exports. The UK is not arming Russia or the pro-Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
5. The UK has a fairly robust Export Controls regime
The fact that the CAEC has the list of export licences granted, and knows what has been revoked means the system works. It’s transparent, and sunshine is the best disinfectant for dodgy dealings. It also gives everyone, from companies, to governments, to the media and campaigners more confidence in our export control regime.
Requiring export licencing for any sensitive technology – not just military technology – means we can track what we export to countries of concern. It also means that when facts on the ground change fast, the UK’s regime is able to move quickly too.
A robust export control regime also helps companies. It helps them know where they stand and how and when to remain on the right side of the law.
Is the UK’s system 100% perfect? There are probably ways to improve the transparency, accountability and independence of the system (and so further strengthen everyone’s confidence in the regime).
But it is working well and responding as best it can to shifting strategic priorities and rather complex global issues.