Development reversals
The arms trade affects development both through the money wasted on arms purchases and through the conflicts fuelled by arms.
A 2007 study of the economic cost of armed conflict to Africa estimated that Africa loses around $18 billion a year due to wars, and that armed conflict shrinks an African nation’s economy by 15%.[1] As well as the direct costs of military spending, medical costs and the destruction of infrastructure, there are indirect costs as the economy and employment suffer. The study estimated that the cost since 1990 was equivalent to the aid provided by major donors.
Even where conflict is not taking place, money diverted to arms is a drain on government resources and takes away from vital spending on health, education and infrastructure. The massive 1998 South African arms deal for aircraft, helicopters, warships and submarines will end up costing the country over £8 billion. At the same time five and a half million South Africans living with HIV and AIDS were told the country couldn’t afford anti-retroviral medication.[2]
Despite desperate poverty and its recent history of conflict, the UK Government is actively promoting arms exports to Angola. In 2008, it not only approved arms exports to Angola but organised an “industry day” when HMS Liverpool docked in Angolan waters and hosted Angolan political and military officials.[3]
As long as a country is willing to pay for arms, wider development needs are irrelevant to both companies and their government supporters.
Notes
- IANSA, Oxfam and Saferworld, Africa's missing billions, October 2007
- Andrew Feinstein, “Undermining South African's Young Democracy”, in CAAT, Private Gain, Public Pain: The Case for Ending the Government's Arms Selling, May 2010, p.7
- See letter to CAAT from UKTI DSO, 21 November 2008 and Defence Manufacturers Association, DMA News, March 2009: “There is growing interest in the Angolan MoD and Armed Forces in increasing their links with the UK. UKTI DSO organised an EEZ course in Luanda in April 2008 which was attended by 70 high-ranking officials from the Angolan military and government. HMS Liverpool visited in October 2008 and, again, attracted a large attendance of senior officers and officials.”
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