Arms embargo

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An arms embargo is a restriction or a set of sanctions that applies either solely to weaponry or also to "dual-use technology." An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:

Contents

Historical examples

Argentina

US President Jimmy Carter imposed an arms embargo on the military government of Argentina in 1977 in response to human rights abuses. [2]

An arms embargo was put in place, along with other economic sanctions by the European Economic Community (EEC), within a week of the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina, two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic. [3] The European nations ended the embargo after the end of the ensuing Falklands War, and Argentina looked to Western European countries and Israel for arms supplies during the US embargo until it was lifted in 1989. [2]

Indonesia

The US government imposed an arms embargo against Indonesia in 1999 because of human rights violations in East Timor. The embargo was lifted in 2005.

Iran

The United States imposed economic sanctions against Iran following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. However, to secure the release of American hostages, several senior Reagan administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran in the 1980s in a scandal called the Iran–Contra affair. [4] In 1995, the US expanded sanctions to include firms dealing with the Iranian government. [5]

In March 2007, UN Security Council Resolution 1747 tightened the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with the Iranian nuclear program. The sanctions were lifted on 16 January 2016.

In September 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the imposition of an arms embargo on the Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics and other entities involved in Iran's nuclear program, including the government of the disputed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for providing weapons to Iran. [6]

On 18 October 2020, Iran announced that the United Nations conventional arms embargo imposed on the country in 2007 had expired. The embargo had barred Iran from purchasing arms, including tanks and fighter jets, from foreign nations. The embargo was lifted as per the conditions under Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world leaders, despite US objections. [7] [8]

People's Republic of China

The United States and the European Union stopped exporting arms to China after 1989 after the violent suppression of protests in Tiananmen Square. In 2004 and 2005, there was some debate in the EU over whether to lift the embargo. [9] [10]

South Africa

UN Security Council Resolution 418 applied an arms embargo of South Africa in 1977 on dual-use items. The embargo was lifted by Resolution 919 in 1994.

United States

To protest the Vietnam War, Sweden imposed an arms embargo on the United States in 1966. [11] [ better source needed ] That notably deprived Navy SEALs of the Carl Gustav m/45 submachine gun, which resulted in the creation of the Smith & Wesson M76.

List of current arms embargoes

The countries included in the list are under arms embargo of the UN or another international organization such as the EU and the OSCE and others) or a country. In some cases the arms embargo is supplemented by a general trade embargo, other sanctions (financial), or travel ban for specific persons. In some cases, the arms embargo applies to any entity residing or established in the country, but in others. it is partial with the recognized government's forces and international peacekeepers being exempted from the embargo.

Arms embargo by UN

Former embargos

Arms embargo by others

Former embargos

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States sanctions against Iran</span> Trade restrictions levied by the United States government

The United States has since 1979 applied various economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran. United States economic sanctions are administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury. Currently, United States sanctions against Iran include an embargo on dealings with the country by the United States, and a ban on selling aircraft and repair parts to Iranian aviation companies.

The events of the first and second rounds of the Zimbabwean presidential election, which Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF won on 27 June 2008 after his challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), withdrew from the process and declared it illegitimate, caused reactions from many international bodies. Other Zimbabwean groups have denounced the poll as well

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2009

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on 12 June 2009. The resolution, passed under Chapter VII, Article 41, of the UN Charter, imposes further economic and commercial sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and encourages UN member states to search North Korean cargo, in the aftermath of an underground nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1907</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2009

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1907, adopted on December 23, 2009, imposed an arms embargo on Eritrea, travel bans on its leaders, and froze the assets of some of the country's political and military officials after accusing the Eritrean government of aiding Al-Shabaab in Somalia and reportedly refusing to withdraw troops from its disputed border with Djibouti, following a conflict in 2008. The African Union and other organisations had been calling on the Security Council to sanction Eritrea for several months.

There have been a number of sanctions against Iran imposed by a number of countries, especially the United States, and international entities. Iran was the most sanctioned country in the world until it was surpassed by Russia following its invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160</span> United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1160, adopted on 31 March 1998, after noting the situation in Kosovo, the council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed an arms embargo and economic sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, hoping to end the use of excessive force by the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1940</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2010

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1940, adopted unanimously on September 29, 2010, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone, including resolutions 1132 (1997) and the 1171 (1998), the Council lifted an arms embargo and remaining sanctions against the country imposed in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1683</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2006

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1683, adopted unanimously on June 13, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, the Council adjusted the arms embargo against the country so that weapons and ammunition could be used for training purposes by the government, police and security forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations exist between Australia and Iran. Australia has maintained a continuous diplomatic presence in Iran since the Australian Embassy in Tehran was established in 1968. Iran has had an embassy in Canberra since September 1971.

International sanctions are political and economic decisions that are part of diplomatic efforts by countries, multilateral or regional organizations against states or organizations either to protect national security interests, or to protect international law, and defend against threats to international peace and security. These decisions principally include the temporary imposition on a target of economic, trade, diplomatic, cultural or other restrictions that are lifted when the motivating security concerns no longer apply, or when no new threats have arisen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2015

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 was a 20 July 2015 resolution endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear program of Iran. It sets out an inspection process and schedule while also preparing for the removal of United Nations sanctions against Iran. The 15 nations on the Security Council unanimously endorsed the resolution, which had been negotiated by the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—plus Germany, the European Union, and Iran.

During the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and early 2000s, several rounds of international sanctions were imposed against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In the first round of sanctions, which were imposed in response to the Bosnian War and Croatian War, and lasted between April 1992 and October 1995, Yugoslavia was placed under a United Nations (UN) embargo. The embargo was lifted following the signing of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the conflict. During and after the Kosovo War of 1998–1999, Yugoslavia was again sanctioned by the UN, European Union (EU) and United States. Following the overthrow of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević in October 2000, the sanctions against Yugoslavia started to be withdrawn, and most were lifted by 19 January 2001.

A number of countries and international bodies have imposed international sanctions against North Korea. Currently, many sanctions are concerned with North Korea's nuclear weapons program and were imposed after its first nuclear test in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctions against Afghanistan</span> Embargo imposed by the United Nations against Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

Sanctions against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were implemented by the United Nations in November 1999. The sanctions were aimed at terrorists, Osama bin Laden and members of Al-Qaeda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctions against Syria</span> Ongoing embargo imposed by the United States and other countries during the Syrian Civil War

Sanctions against Syria are a series of economic sanctions and restrictions imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, mainly as a result of the repression of civilians in the Syrian civil war from 2011 onwards. The US sanctions against Syria are the most severe, as they affect third-parties as well, and amount to an embargo. U.S. secondary sanctions were limited until 2020 when the Caesar Act entered into force. The intent is to prevent the Syrian government from employing violence against its citizens and to motivate political reforms that could solve the root causes of the conflict.

Seven resolutions have been approved by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) relating to the nuclear program of Iran, although the only one currently in force is Resolution 2231, passed on 20 July 2015 endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program. It sets out an inspection process and schedule while also preparing for the removal of United Nations arms sanctions against Iran. In August 2020, the U.S. released a proposal to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran in the UN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations General Assembly Resolution 500</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 1951

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 500 was approved on May 18, 1951, recommending a trade embargo on the People’s Republic of China and North Korea, in response to the intervention of Chinese troops in Korean War.

References

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  2. 1 2 "WORLD : U.S. Ends Argentine Arms Embargo - Los Angeles Times". Los Angelete Times. 21 February 1989.
  3. ↑ R.W. Apple Jr. (11 April 1982). "EUROPEANS ENDING ARGENTINE IMPORTS IN FALKLAND CRISIS". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ The Iran-Contra Affair 20 Years On Archived 2015-03-20 at the Wayback Machine . The National Security Archive (George Washington University), 2006-11-24
  5. ↑ Ariel Zirulnick (24 February 2011). "Sanction Qaddafi? How 5 nations have reacted to sanctions: Iran". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Trump administration sanctions Iranian Defense Ministry, Venezuela's Maduro for aiding Iran's weapons programs". CNBC. 21 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Iran says UN arms embargo lifted, allowing it to buy weapons". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "UN arms embargoes on Iran expire despite US objections". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. ↑ http://www.sldinfo.com/the-eu-arms-embargo-repeal-debate/ Archived 2015-06-07 at the Wayback Machine The EU Arms Embargo Repeal Debate
  10. ↑ https://www.academia.edu/5475879/The_EU_Arms_Embargo_on_China_a_Swedish_Perspective_2010_/ Archived 2018-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Hellström, Jerker (2010) "The EU Arms Embargo on China: a Swedish Perspective", Swedish Defence Research Agency
  11. ↑ Rottman, Gordon L. (2013). The Big Book of Gun Trivia: Everything you want to know, don't want to know, and don't know you need to know. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 54. ISBN   978-1-78200-949-8.
  12. ↑ Security Council arms embargo Archived July 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ DR Congo arms embargo Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Arms embargoes | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  15. ↑ Iraq embargo Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Archived June 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ "UN Security Council keeps Libya arms embargo in place". Al Jazeera English . March 28, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Embargoes and sanctions on Democratic People's Republic of Korea". GOV.UK. 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  18. ↑ Lebanon embargo Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Archived February 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Somalia embargo Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ Sudan embargo Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ EU Sanctions measures Archived March 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ EU Guinea embargo Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ Iran embargo Archived November 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ "Iran says UN arms embargo lifted, allowing it to buy weapons". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  25. ↑ Ivory Coast embargo Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Archived May 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ "S/RES/2283(2016) - E - S/RES/2283(2016) -Desktop". undocs.org. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  27. ↑ Rwanda embargo Archived February 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Wontner, Edwina (3 March 2010). "Export Controls: Sanctions and Embargoes: Sierra Leone". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "UN lifts arms embargo on Sierra Leone". foxnews.com. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  30. ↑ United Nations Security Council Resolution 713
  31. ↑ "EU arms embargo on the former SFR of Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  32. ↑ "EU arms embargo on the former SFR of Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  33. ↑ "UK shoots down Argentine FA-50 deal".
  34. ↑ "Export licensing policy for Argentina".
  35. ↑ OSCE Nagorno Karabakh arms embargo Archived June 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ↑ OSCE Nagorno Karabakh arms embargo Archived June 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ↑ US Cuba arms embargo
  38. ↑ EU Myanmar arms embargo Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  39. ↑ EU China arms embargo Archived January 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ US China arms embargo Archived October 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  41. ↑ EU Zimbabwe embargo Archived June 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  42. ↑ Brussels, Associated Press in (9 May 2011). "EU imposes arms embargo on Syria". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  43. ↑ Traynor, Ian (28 May 2013). "UK forces EU to lift embargo on Syria rebel arms". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  44. ↑ "US Arms Embargo against Turkey – after 30 Years, An Institutional Approach towards US Policy Making" (PDF). sam.gov.tr. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  45. ↑ EU Uzbekistan embargo Archived December 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  46. ↑ "EU arms embargo on Uzbekistan — www.sipri.org". Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
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