Campaign Against Arms Trade

UK Arms Sales to Bahrain

Arms promotion

Sales to Bahrain are high on the UK Government's arms promotion agenda. Its arms sales unit, the UK Trade and Investment's Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), identified Bahrain as a key market in 2008/09 and the promotion efforts have continued since, regardless of the human rights abuses taking place in the country. In October 2012 a memorandum of understanding on military co-operation was signed that included areas such as intelligence exchange and military force training (Bahrain News Agency, 11.10.2012).

Two of the main elements of the arms sales drive are high-level political relationships and invitations to arms fairs.

High-level political relationships

There is a close relationship between the UK government and the authoritarian Bahraini regime. On 7 August 2013, Bahrain's King Hamad met with Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street, expressing his thanks for the UK's supportive stances towards Bahrain. At the same time he indicated his eagerness to buy Eurofighter Typhoon jets (Gulf Daily News, 7.8.2013).

Other recent visits include King Hamad visiting Downing Street in July 2010, the Crown Prince meeting the Foreign Secretary William Hague in December 2010 (Mark Curtis, 24.9.2012), and coming again in May 2011 (Independent, 20.5.2011), King Hamad returning the following December (Guardian, 12.12.2011) and also being invited to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee banquet in May 2012 (Daily Mail, 7.4.2012).

Another Bahraini prince, Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad al-Khalifa, was a VIP guest at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics despite allegations of direct involvement in the repression of pro-democracy supporters (Sunday Times, 15.4.2012). He also attended Counter Terror Expo in the UK in April 2013 (Bahrain News Agency, 25.4.2013).

The close relationship also involves trips in the opposite direction. Philip Hammond was part of a September 2012 delegation to Bahrain that he said was in support of Her Majesty Government's policy for defence engagement and wider foreign policy (Hansard, 15.10.2012). In April 2013 the head of UKTI DSO, Richard Paniguian, met with the Bahraini Minister for Defence Affairs to discuss bilateral military cooperation, i.e. arms sales (Bahrain News Agency, 29.4.2013).

Arms fairs

Bahrain is a regular invitee to arms fairs including Farnborough International (CAAT Farnborough webpages) and Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) (CAAT DSEI webpages).

Emails obtained by Private Eye under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the UK government initially declined to invite Bahrain to DSEI 2011 but relented by the time the arms fair came around after deciding the regime's human rights records had improved considerably (Private Eye, 13.7.2012).

In turn, UK government organisations have participated in Bahraini arms fairs. In January 2010, UKTI DSO's Head and also its army Export Support Team attended the Bahrain Air Show. Senior staff also attended in January 2012 to re-engage with RBAF [Royal Bahraini Air Force] (UKTI DSO, 5.3.2012).

Military training

Military training can also lead to a closer military relationship and potentially benefit arms sales, and the UK has sought to provide this to the Bahraini armed forces.

During a five year period between 2006 and 2011, over 100 Bahraini military officers were trained by the Ministry of Defence at Sandhurst and other top colleges in the UK. Short-term teams were also sent to Bahrain to carry out specific training (Guardian, 18.2.2011).

Since 2007, King Hamad has been patron of the Sandhurst Foundation. He donated £3m to the academy in 2012 (Arabian Business News, 3.9.2012).

Arms sales

The UK has been a steady supplier of arms to Bahrain over recent years.

Some information on UK arms exports is published by the UK government. It provides information on export licences granted to companies wishing to export Military List (equipment that is definitely for military use) or dual-use (equipment that could be for military or civil use) equipment to Bahrain. The information does not name the exporting company or the end-user. Totals in the table below refer to just one type of licence, Single Individual Export Licences (SIELs).

Year Total export licences Military List licences
2012 £7,968,437 £4,600,731
2011 £13,310,376 £2,225,278
2010 £8,776,392 £4,874,137
2009 £2,873,044 £618,121
2008 £5,167,508 £634,501

The licences approved for Bahrain have been wide ranging. Examples include licences for:

  • 400 machine guns and related parts worth £4.1 million (2013)
  • military aero engines worth £40,429 (2012)
  • training hand grenades worth £72,300 (2011)
  • equipment for the use of sniper rifles worth £17,440 (2010)
  • for small arms and equipment worth £52,217 (2009)
  • military communications equipment worth £210,700 (2008).

Companies

Companies applying for arms export licences

Small arms and related equipment have been consistently sold to Bahrain. A UK Government response to a Freedom of Information request (12 September 2012) revealed a number of companies that had applied for export licences for Military List equipment to Bahrain in 2009/2010. The licences were from the ML1 , ML2 and ML3 categories, which cover small arms, artillery, mortars, smoke and gas projectors, and ammunition (see UK Strategic Export Control Lists). The companies were:

Since that Freedom of Information request, a further request identified all companies that applied for Military List export licences to Bahrain in 2010. Those companies that were at the DSEI arms fair 2013 are listed on CAAT's company map.

BAE Systems

BAE has a long-term relationship as an arms supplier to Bahrain. Its deals include:

  • In 2000, BAE Systems signed a deal to supply hardware and services to Bahrain. Details were not revealed but industry sources said that it included £1 million worth of land-based artillery detection equipment and also co-operation on an air training academy project (Flight International, 8.14.2000)
  • In January 2002 BAE Systems was appointed prime contractor for the Bahrain Air Academy (Jane's Defence Weekly, 5.2.2003)
  • In January 2003 BAE Systems signed a contract for six Hawk advanced jet trainers, logistical support and simulators, to provide a flight school for the Bahraini air force. This deal led to BAE opening an office in Manama (Jane's Defence Weekly, 5.2.2003 & 13.8.2003).
  • BAE would be the main beneficiary of a deal for Eurofighter Typhoons that was discussed by King Hamad and David Cameron in August 2013 (Telegraph, 9.8.2013).
Page created 16 September 2013