The Brexit process started with the decision to leave in the referendum held in 2016, and the UK’s tensions from the European Union (EU) took place on 29 March 2019. This process has had significant effects on the trade relations between the EU and the UK. However, as a result of the inability to reach an agreement in the reconciliations, ongoing negotiations are still being carried out for the execution of the proceedings. These negotiations also include sensitive issues such as the arms trade.
Historically, arms have been traded between the UK and European countries. They traded weapons in colonial areas during their colonization operations, especially in the United Kingdom and other European countries in the 19th century. After the Second World War, the United Kingdom and other European countries took part in international defense organizations such as NATO, and this widespread arms trade continued.
Towards the end of the 1990s, the United Kingdom and other European countries signed several agreements on arms trade. The Council of Europe adopted a set of rules called “Principles and Criteria” in Vienna in 1998. These rules aim to prevent the sale of arms to countries that do not respect human rights.[1]
In 2013, the United Kingdom and other EU countries signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which includes stricter rules on arms exports. This treaty aims to prevent arms sales to countries that may create human rights violations or regional instability. ATT encourages the UK and other EU countries to adopt a common approach to arms exports.
According to the treaty, countries to which arms will be exported must respect principles such as respect for human rights, not endanger regional stability, not support terrorist activities and not engage in war crimes. In addition, the countries to which weapons will be exported should be clearly stated, the objectives of the export and the characteristics of the weapons should be clearly explained.[2]
The signing of the treaty is important for the UK and other EU countries to set stricter rules on arms exports. The ATT aims to ensure that the UK and other EU countries respect human rights and maintain regional stability in arms exports. However, the UK’s departure from the EU as a result of the EU referendum in 2016 caused it to draw its own path in determining national arms export policies, rather than complying with the EU’s arms trade policies. These new policies adopt a more liberal approach in contrast to the strict rules adopted by the EU.
After Brexit, the UK prioritizes its own national interests when trading arms with other countries. This increased Britain’s control over the arms trade. Without being a member of the EU, the UK can set its own rules on the arms trade and therefore does not have to adhere to the EU’s arms trade policies. This allows the London government to have more freedom for the arms trade. This also allows the UK to adopt a more flexible approach to the arms trade.
The UK Government has adopted some regulations governing the international arms trade. Among these regulations is the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. ATT aims to prevent the use of weapons in violation of human rights by aiming at strict regulation of the arms trade. For this reason, the United Kingdom has become a party to international treaties such as the ATT and has accepted regulations for international arms trade.[3]
The UK stands out as one of the EU’s largest arms suppliers, and after Brexit, uncertainties arose about how this trade would be conducted. After the Brexit referendum in 2016, there has been a lot of discussion about the arms trade in the UK.
The United Kingdom realized an arms export of 13.3 billion dollars worldwide in 2020, and this figure indicated an increase of 16%. However, annual arms trade data are not fully released until 2021, as the UK’s formal departure from the EU took place in 2020. The UK’s arms export ranks third in the EU after the United States (US) and Russia.[4]
In the light of the above data, it can be said that the EU can continue to import arms from the UK, but new agreements must be made for this transaction and certain conditions must be met after the UK leaves. However, since the UK’s arms trade policies include arms exports to countries that do not respect human rights, the majority of the international community criticizes these policies and demands that such exports be stopped.
The effects of Brexit on the arms trade could not only negatively affect the UK’s arms and defense industry, but also its exports. The EU is one of the UK’s largest markets for defense exports, so the UK’s departure from the EU could result in more bureaucracy and costs in export transactions. However, the British government follows a strategy of increasing its exports by making free trade agreements with countries outside the EU. Implementation of this strategy can help companies operating in the British defense industry increase their exports and reduce their dependence on the EU market.[5]
This situation could adversely affect the UK’s participation in EU defence, research and development projects. Because the EU carries out joint research projects in the defense industry and the UK makes significant investments in these projects. With the UK leaving the EU, participation in these projects may become more difficult. However, the UK Government has announced that they will continue to invest in defence, research and development projects.[6]
The effects of the UK’s departure from the EU on the defense budget are also a matter of debate. The EU strives to act together in defense spending, but the UK does not participate in these initiatives. Therefore, Brexit may reduce the impact of the EU on the defense budget. However, the UK Government has announced that they will not cut the defense budget, or even increase it.
Britain, one of the biggest arms suppliers of the EU, is experiencing uncertainties about how competitive it can be after Brexit. While the UK will no longer have to comply with the EU’s regulations, it will have to create its own regulations. This could create additional costs and new uncertainties for the UK’s arms industry.[7]
The effects of Brexit on the arms trade are not only limited to the relations between the UK and the EU, but may also increase the potential of the London administration to trade arms with other capitals. Britain, which left the EU, can now determine its own arms trade policies and trade more freely with other countries. However, arms trade is a contentious issue in the international community, and the UK gaining more freedom with other countries could increase global security risks. This situation may be deepened by increases in the international arms trade.
There is some uncertainty about the effects of Brexit on the arms trade. However, it is possible for the UK to introduce new regulations on arms exports to avoid the negative reaction of the international community. These arrangements can make the UK more transparent and accountable in the arms trade and increase its reputation in the international community. However, Brexit’s lowering of political commitment to the EU may cause the EU to be skeptical of the UK, and this attitude may negatively affect the UK’s arms trade talks with other EU states. In addition, the fact that the UK will now contribute less to the EU’s defense projects may reduce its influence on the EU’s defense budget. However, the UK Government has announced that it will not cut or even increase the defense budget.
In 2020, defense industry cooperation between the UK, Germany and France stands out as a critical strategic area for the development of strong defense projects and increasing defense capabilities in Europe. In particular, under the leadership of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, various agreements were signed to increase defense industry cooperation.
The Lancaster House Treaty, a treaty aimed at increasing cooperation between the two countries, was signed between the United Kingdom and France in 2020. The treaty aims to promote cooperation on issues such as conducting joint military operations, developing equipment and technology, logistics and intelligence sharing. On the other hand, arms trade between the UK and the EU is now based on bilateral agreements and arrangements. This trade, which was previously subject to the EU’s common arms export policies, consisted of arms exports to the United Kingdom, which accounted for around 10% of the EU’s total arms exports at the time the Lancaster House Treaty was signed.
The Future Combat Air System Project (FCAS) between Germany and France is an important project that aims to jointly develop next-generation fighter aircraft, strengthen aviation industries and increase military capabilities. With an agreement signed in 2019, Spain was also included in the FCAS Project.[8]
Ultimately, the effects of Brexit on the arms trade are complex and varied. After Brexit, London will be able to set its own arms trade policies and trade more freely with other countries. However, the relations between the UK and the EU are full of uncertainties, especially regarding the arms supply. In addition, the UK’s arms trade with other countries could increase global security risks.
[1] “Vienna European Council 11 and 12 December 1998 Presidency Conclusions”, European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/summits/wie1_en.htm, (Date of Accession: 05.04.2023).
[2] “Annual Report”, AT&T, https://investors.att.com/financial-reports/annual-reports/2013, (Date of Accession: 05.04.2023).
[3] “Treaty Text”, The Arms Trade Treaty, https://thearmstradetreaty.org/treaty-text.html?templateId=209884, (Date of Accession: 05.04.2023).
[4] “UK Authorised £1.4bn of Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia AFTER EXPORTS RESUMED”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/uk-authorised-14bn-of-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-after-exports-resumed, (Date of Accession: 05.04.2023).
[5] “The Impacts of Brexit on the Security and the Defence Industry in the European Union and the United Kingdom”, Warsaw Institute, https://warsawinstitute.org/impacts-brexit-security-defence-industry-european-union-united-kingdom/, (Date of Accession: 05.04.2023).
[6] “Brexit and UK Defence: An Explainer”, UK Parliament, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8676/, (Date of Accession: 06.04.2023).
[7] “Brexit’s Implications for UK Defence Industrial Cooperation with Europe”, RUSI, https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/brexits-implications-uk-defence-industrial-cooperation-europe, (Date of Accession: 06.04.2023).
[8] “France, Germany, Spain agree on moving on with FCAS warplane development”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/france-germany-spain-agree-next-phase-fighter-jet-development-source-2022-11-18/, (Date of Accession: 06.04.2023).
