Defense giant BAE Systems linked to arms deals in countries accused of human rights abuses, report finds

 

 

BAE said it will neither confirm nor deny who it sells to, but noted in a statement that it plays “a key role in enabling legitimate governments to defend their nation and protect their people.”

It comes as BAE Systems sales have surged, with orders exceeding targets in 2023 to total £37.7 billion ($46.95 billion).

The U.K.’s largest defense contractor, has established trading relationships with countries accused of human rights abuses, according to a new report that reveals the extensive reach of its lucrative arms business.

Over the past decade, the defense giant had a definite trading relationship with 81 countries and a reported relationship with a further 12, together accounting for almost half (48%) of all countries globally, an investigation by U.K.-based non-profit Action on Armed Violence found.

Included in those are 13 countries on the U.K.’s human rights abuse watchlist, as well as 29 countries whose military actions have injured or killed civilians. A further nine countries on the list have experienced one or more military coup d’etats over the past 10 years, AoAV, which is funded by poverty prevention charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found.

Iain Overton, co-author and AOAV chief executive, told CNBC the investigation could be the first of many delving into the trade flows of arms manufacturers, with a likely future focus on prominent U.S. firms.

However, Overton said the government was failing to do due diligence on company contracts, which he said showed “hypocrisy” in U.K.’s aim to be an “exporter of democracy.”

“We’re criticizing the U.K. government for its lack of transparency,” Overton said. “In a post-Brexit economic environment, there is no appetite across government to be restrictive on arms exports.”