The Forum on the Arms Trade is a network of civil society experts and a point of contact for strengthening public efforts to address the humanitarian, economic and other implications of arms transfers, security assistance, and weapons use. Managed from Washington DC, the Forum provides a venue for bringing its community's wide-ranging expertise together to amplify and strengthen its work, while also offering government and media members a one-stop resource for the latest information, analysis, and best contacts. Forum-listed experts are located around the world and work on diverse topics including human rights, development, arms control, humanitarian disarmament, cybersecurity, arms and the environment, anti-corruption, and related fields.
Notification TrackerNew FMS notifications: July 10 - South Korea $250 million for support to Peace Krypton reconnaissance aircraft July 9 - Japan $23.11 billion for 105 F-35 fighter aircraft; Taiwan $620 million for Patriot missile recertification; Germany $130 million for 64 MK 54 lightweight torpedoes; Belgium $33.3 million for 29 MK 54 lightweight torpedoes July 7 - Jordan $23 million for one Black Hawk helicopter July 6 - Israel $3 billion for fuel; Indonesia $2 billion for 8 Osprey aircraft; France $2 billion for 3 Hawkeye aircraft; Lithuania $380 million for 6 Black Hawk helicopters; Argentina $100 million for 27 Stryker infantry carriers June 17 - Ukraine $600 million 16 Mark VI patrol boats June 15 - Canada $862.3 million 50 Sidewinder missiles and other items for F/A-18A aircraft May 28 - Kuwait $800 million for 84 Patriot missile enhancement segments, $425 million for Patriot sustainment, $200 million for Patriot repair and return May 20 - Taiwan $180 million for heavy torpedoes May 8 - Hungary $230 million for air-to-air missiles May 7 - Egypt $2.3 billion to refurbish 43 Apache attack helicopters United Arab Emirates $556 million for 4,569 MRAP vehicles from Excess Defense Articles April 30 - Philippines $1.5 billion for Apache attack helicopters OR $450 million for AH-1Z attach helicopters April 23 - United Arab Emirates $150 million for spare helicopter parts April 14 - Morocco $62 million for Harpoon missiles April 13 - India $92 million for Harpoon missiles and $62 million for torpedoes April 10 - South Korea $675 million for F-35 support Netherlands - $40.55 million for 199 Excalibur guided artillery projectiles see resource
Resource Page - Int'l Trade of Firearms & Ammunition: Move to Commerce ControlOn January 17, the Federal Register put online final rules (Commerce, State), that were officially published on Jan. 23. Numerous states attorneys generals filed a case to block the rules.
On March 4, more than 20 organizations sent a letter to Congress opposing the policy. On March 6, a temporary injunction was issued barring the transfer of 3D printing plan regulation to Commerce (but not impacting the remainder of the rules). The broader rules have now come into effect (March 9). See resource page for reactions and developments. 2019 On February 4, 2019, Congress was notified of final rules to transfer of some items on US Munitions List (USML) categories I-III to the Commerce Control List (CCL), starting a 30-day review period. Legislation to block the change has now been introduced in both the Senate and the House and a hold placed delaying its implementation. A hearing on this topic is was held Tuesday, March 26, in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. On May 14, more than 100 organizations sent a letter to Congress opposing the changes. On July 11, the House added an amendment (#10) to the NDAA, which would block these changes, by a vote of 225 to 205. On July 12, the House passed the full NDAA by a vote of 220 to 197, but the NDAA has since remained stalled in conference. The Senate version did not contain this provision. On October 24, 44 organizations delivered a letter calling for retention of this amendment in the NDAA, along with many others. November 12, Congressional staff were briefed on Trump administration plans to move these rules forward. The December 9 conference (and ultimately final) version of the National Defense Authorization Act did not retain the amendment that would prohibit changes to firearms export rules (see conference report). But on December 10, Senator Menendez again requested a hold be placed (see letter). 2018 The proposed rule was published on May 24 and closed for public comment on July 9, 2018. See resource for concerns expressed and more information. 
Experts PublicationsHighlighting publications in which Forum-listed experts were involved. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others.
Iain Overton (editor) "Blast injury: the reverberating health consequences from the use of explosive weapons," Action on Armed Violence, July 10, 2020.
Shannon Dick and Rachel Stohl, "A Record Number Of Countries Are Using Child Soldiers," Inkstick, July 9, 2020. Amy Nelson, "Innovation and Its Discontents: National Models of Military Innovation and the Dual-Use Conundrum," The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM), July 2020. Mandy Smithberger+, "Ending police violence begins with cutting Pentagon money, militarization program," USA Today, July 8, 2020. William Hartung, "Police, Prisons, and the Pentagon: Defunding America's Wars at Home and Abroad," The Nation, July 8, 2020. Iain Overton, "The Effects of Strategic Bombing in WWII on German Morale," Action on Armed Violence, July 8, 2020. (See also summary of effects on health care and medicine.) Doug Weir, "Closing the environmental monitoring gap in conflicts," Institution of Environmental Sciences, July 2020. Iain Overton (editor) "The Broken Land: the environmental consequences of explosive weapon use," Action on Armed Violence, July 3, 2020. Jeff Abramson, "A proven model for human-centered international security exists. Let’s use it," Responsible Statecraft, July 2, 2020. View the full list of recent and past publications featuring Forum on the Arms Trade-listed experts.
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Virtual MeetingsIn this period of increased social distancing and isolation in an effort to lessen the impact of the coronavirus, we share information about events that can be attended remotely featuring Forum-listed experts.
July 16: Gun Violence in the Americas: Local Solutions ot Hemispheric Challenges
These events are part of this series. U.S. Landmine PolicyChanges to U.S. landmine policy to allow for greater use of the weapons were announced by the White House on Jan 31. UPDATE (May 6) - More than 100 members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Esper expressing disappointment in new U.S. landmine policy and seeking answers to questions on the justification for the reversal and future plans. (See here for expert commentary.) Reaction and information available - resource page.
U.S. Presidential Election 2020 - Candidate PositionsQuotes and other resources identifying positions of candidates for U.S. President on four key arms trade issues: Arms Trade Treaty; arms to Saudi-led coalition; firearms export oversight, and the Mine Ban Treaty. Will be expanded and updated regularly. See resource.
2020 Annual Conference -
Missed the conference? Check out the video.
"Arms Trade FAQ" videosSee transcripts and more details here.
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