Prime minister says expecting small countries such as Kuwait to
manufacture all their defence weapons is at odds with reality
Nicholas Watt in Kuwait
Wednesday February 23 2011
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/22/david-cameron-britain-arms-trade
Opponents of Britain's arms trade are "completely at odds with
reality", David Cameron said, as he hit out critics of his three-day
visit to the Gulf.
In a staunch defence of Britain's arms exports, as he tours the region
with a group of senior defence manufacturers, Cameron said it was
wrong to leave small Gulf countries to fend for themselves.
Speaking in Kuwait, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the
expulsion of Saddam Hussein's forces, Cameron said: "The idea that we
should expect small and democratic countries like Kuwait to be able to
manufacture all their means of defence seems to me completely at odds
with reality."
The prime minister indicated irritation with his critics [http://
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/21/cameron-cairo-visit-defence-trade"
title="indicated irritation with his critics] when was asked during a
press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart how he could promote
democracy and reform in the Middle East while travelling with
businessmen selling arms to the region.
Cameron said: "I simply don't understand how you can't understand how
democracies have a right to defend themselves. I would have thought
this argument is particularly powerful right here in Kuwait which, 20
years ago, was invaded by a thuggish bullying neighbour who
disrespected your sovereignty, invaded your country and destroyed
parts of your capital city.
He added: "Are we honestly saying that for all time, forever and a
day, that countries like Kuwait have to manufacture and maintain every
single part of their own defences? I think very few people considering
that argument for any time would give it any consideration at all."
Cameron mounted a three-point defence of his Gulf tour:
- On the 20th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, it is right
that the emirate should be allowed to defend itself. "The idea that
Kuwait should not be able to have its own armed forces that are able
to defend its own country and take part in the defence trade in that
way ? I find an extraordinary argument for us to make when we extended
such help to Kuwait and when British service personnel played such a
huge role."
- Britain has tough export licences governing its arms sales. "When
Britain does take part in the defence trade we do so with probably the
tightest set of export licences and rules almost anywhere in the
world. It is obviously a difficult process to get right on every
occasion. But we do have very, very tough controls, and very clear
controls.
"The idea that we should expect small and democratic countries like
Kuwait to be able to manufacture all their means of defence seems to
me completely at odds with reality. So a properly regulated trade in
defence is not something we should be ashamed of. The fact that there
are British companies on this visit like British Aerospace or Thales
or others that have a perfect right in this regard stands for itself."
- None of the five Memoranda Of Understanding, signed with Kuwait,
cover defence. They instead focus on energy and technology.
Cameron said: "I am very proud to have brought to Kuwait such a wide
range of not just businesspeople, but also people involved with
cultural and other endeavours. It is important, as Britain wants to
link itself with some of the fastest growing parts of the world and to
improve our trade relations, that we take such delegations of business
people."
Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti prime minister,
said: "The distinguished delegates who have arrived with the prime
minister are in various types not only military aspects. In our four-
year plan the budget is ?70bn. We welcome all the British companies
and to go ahead with us."
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011
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