DSEI

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Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI, formerly stylized DSEi) is a biennial defence and security trade exhibition which serves as a forum between governments, national armed forces, industry, and academics, held at ExCeL London.

Contents

DSEI 2019 comprised c. 1700 exhibitors from 58 countries, [1] and DSEI 2023 is scheduled for 12–15 September 2023. [2] [ needs update ]

DSEI's history

In 1999, the UK's Labour Government privatised the joint British Army and Royal Navy Exhibitions which had taken place since 1976. Exhibition company, Spearhead, launched DSEI (then known as Defence and Systems Equipment International) and the first event took place at Chertsey, Surrey.[ citation needed ]

In 2001, the exhibition moved to its current location at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London Docklands. DSEI rebranded in 2009 to Defence and Security Equipment International.

Current ownership

In April 2008, Clarion Events acquired DSEI. [3] [ better source needed ]

Controversy

In 2007 two exhibitors were expelled by the then organisers, Reed Exhibitions, after distributing brochures advertising leg irons. [4]

In 2011 DSEI ejected two exhibitors promoting cluster munitions which are banned by the UK. [5]

In 2021 Amnesty International reported a brochure listing "waist chains and cuffs with leg cuffs" by a company at the event. [4]

Thus the event attracts campaigns against it, [6] which have included attempts to disrupt the set-up of the event.

Criticism

DSEI frequently attracts protests from those opposed to the promotion of weapons in London, who are critical of nation states that are allowed to attend or of the equipment promoted.

In 2019, London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticised the event, stating "London is a global city, which is home to individuals who have fled conflict and suffered as a consequence of arms and weapons like those exhibited at DSEI. In order to represent Londoners’ interests, I will take any opportunity available to prevent this event from taking place at the Royal Docks in future years." [7]

More than 100 protestors were arrested for blockading the event in 2017, [8] with the Supreme Court subsequently ruling on proportionality. [9]

Amnesty International has criticised the event for selling weapons of torture and for providing weapons that have been traced to attacks on civilians. [10] In 2019 AI made a spoof video highlighting the event and criticising its activities. [11]

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) regularly campaigns against DSEI citing that many of the official military and security delegations that attend the exhibition represent human rights abusing regimes such as Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and all countries on the UK Government's own list of "countries of concern". One regime that CAAT highlights is Saudi Arabia which has been one of the leading countries involved in the war in Yemen which CAAT states "has seen the deaths of thousands of civilians, and estimated arms sales to the coalition around £18 billion since the conflict began in 2015". [12] [13] [14]

DSEI 2021

DSEI 2021 took place 14–17 September 2021, [15] despite Sadiq Khan's protestations. It gave an exhibition of land, aerospace, naval, joint and security capabilities, with an extensive keynote and seminar programme as well as the debut of DSEI Connect, a virtual platform created to give access to DSEI content and business development opportunities for those unable to attend in person. [1]

DSEI stakeholders

Fully endorsed by the UK Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Trade, [16] DSEI maintains a strong standing with the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "DSEI 2021". DSEI. Archived from the original on 4 March 2000. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  2. ↑ www.gov.uk
  3. ↑ www.blackstone.com
  4. 1 2 "London Arms fair advertises banned torture equipment". www.amnesty.org.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Companies ejected from London arms fair for 'promoting cluster bombs'". the Guardian. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Home". Stop the Arms Fair. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "'Get out of London,' Sadiq Khan tells organisers of world's largest arms fair". Independent.co.uk. Independent. 8 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Grafton-Green, Patrick (15 September 2017). "More than 100 people arrested at world's biggest arms fair in London". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "Supreme Court Upholds Right To Protest In DSEI Arms Fair Case". Hodge Jones & Allen. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Arms companies are hiding between governments - they must be held accountable". www.amnesty.org. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. ↑ Welcome to the London Arms Fair, 14 September 2015, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 10 August 2021
  12. ↑ "Defence & Security Equipment International". Campaign Against Arms Trade. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "DSEI 2021". Campaign Against Arms Trade. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "An unwelcome guest: DSEI 2021". Campaign Against Arms Trade. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  15. ↑ www.techuk.org
  16. ↑ "UKDSE: event and exhibition support". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
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