SEE CONFERENCE REPORT
The Forum on the Arms Trade’s Looking Ahead 2025 event series was held as daily virtual sessions from January 13 to 17, 2025. Over the course of the week, 164 unique individuals participated in at least one event, joining from 38 countries. Select sessions of the conference were co-hosted with the Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), PAX, Shadow World Investigations, and Global Exchange.
The Forum is an independent non-profit organization that does not itself take positions.
The Forum on the Arms Trade’s Looking Ahead 2025 event series was held as daily virtual sessions from January 13 to 17, 2025. Over the course of the week, 164 unique individuals participated in at least one event, joining from 38 countries. Select sessions of the conference were co-hosted with the Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), PAX, Shadow World Investigations, and Global Exchange.
- January 13 - Arms Trade Issues in Europe
- January 14 - Evolving Legal Challenges to the Arms Trade
- January 15 - Moving the Humanitarian Disarmament Agenda Forward
- January 16 - U.S. Border: Understanding the Guns and Immigration Link (Frontera de EE. UU.: Entendiendo el vínculo entre armas e migración)
- January 17 - Advice for the Next U.S. Congress and President
The Forum is an independent non-profit organization that does not itself take positions.
Arms Trade Issues in Europe in 2025
DATE: Monday, January 13, 2025
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
How will wars in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine continue to shape European arms trade in 2025? How are states responding to an incoming Trump presidency?
As many European countries have ramped up arms production in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the European Union has set aside funds dedicated for doing so, relations with an incoming Trump administration and his approach to NATO will be telling. Some states may further militarize - nationally or cooperatively - in a push for greater independence from the U.S., with a significant risk that this will lead to more arms trade from Europe and to regions of concern.
The varied response of European countries to arming Israel, and participation in the F-35 program, is also likely to continue to test commitments to human rights and conflict avoidance that are supposed to be at the heart of some European arms exporters’ policies.
Join with an expert panel to discuss these trends, and their suggestions for what should be done.
Panelists:
This event is co-organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade, Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), PAX, and Shadow World Investigations. This event is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
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This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/cfhIvMMieGk?t=83.
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
How will wars in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine continue to shape European arms trade in 2025? How are states responding to an incoming Trump presidency?
As many European countries have ramped up arms production in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the European Union has set aside funds dedicated for doing so, relations with an incoming Trump administration and his approach to NATO will be telling. Some states may further militarize - nationally or cooperatively - in a push for greater independence from the U.S., with a significant risk that this will lead to more arms trade from Europe and to regions of concern.
The varied response of European countries to arming Israel, and participation in the F-35 program, is also likely to continue to test commitments to human rights and conflict avoidance that are supposed to be at the heart of some European arms exporters’ policies.
Join with an expert panel to discuss these trends, and their suggestions for what should be done.
Panelists:
- Sam Perlo-Freeman, Research Coordinator, Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK)
- Ruth Rohde, Researcher and Project Coordinator, Shadow World Investigations
- Wendela de Vries, Researcher/Activist, Stop Wapenhandel
- Frank Slijper, Project Leader, Arms Trade, PAX (moderator)
This event is co-organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade, Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), PAX, and Shadow World Investigations. This event is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
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This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/cfhIvMMieGk?t=83.
Evolving Legal Challenges to the Arms Trade in 2025
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
In recent years, the wars in Yemen and Israel/Gaza have sparked a diverse array of legal challenges to the arms trade. Not only have courts heard national litigation cases, but the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and other regional bodies have taken up questions of the legal propriety of arms supplies. In this session, leading lawyers and scholars will discuss ongoing cases with an eye toward what we might see in 2025 and beyond as legal approaches evolve.
Panelists:
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/aZXRUc6kZ4E?t=128
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
In recent years, the wars in Yemen and Israel/Gaza have sparked a diverse array of legal challenges to the arms trade. Not only have courts heard national litigation cases, but the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and other regional bodies have taken up questions of the legal propriety of arms supplies. In this session, leading lawyers and scholars will discuss ongoing cases with an eye toward what we might see in 2025 and beyond as legal approaches evolve.
Panelists:
- Marina Aksenova, Associate Professor of International Criminal Law, IE University (Madrid), and founder, Art and International Justice Initiative
- Shahd Hammouri, Lecturer in International Law, University of Kent; non-resident Fellow, Al Haq for Applied International Law (Palestine, Jordan, United Kingdom)
- James Yap, Acting Director, International Human Rights Program, and Faculty of Law, University of Toronto (Canada)
- León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Senior Researcher, Asser Institute for International and European Law, The Hague (moderator)
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/aZXRUc6kZ4E?t=128
Moving the Humanitarian Disarmament Agenda Forward in 2025
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
The closing months of 2024 highlighted both challenges to and opportunities for the humanitarian disarmament (HD) agenda. For example, as U.S. transfers of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine challenged the Mine Ban Treaty, a record number of countries expressed support for a mine-free world via an annual UN resolution. And, as a small number of countries continued to block progress on a legally binding instrument on lethal autonomous weapons in discussions held via the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, a much larger number in the United Nations pushed to move forward. More broadly, public attention grew on the investment in and production of weaponry of all types (from small arms to nuclear weapons), as well as the need for human rights due diligence, providing opportunities outside of those international bodies to advance restraint.
Join panelists as they discuss these developments and ways to move the HD agenda forward in 2025.
Panelists:
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade. It is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/4dbQatmzH1k?t=124
TIME: 10:00-11:00AM EST / 16:00-17:00 CET
LOCATION: Virtual
The closing months of 2024 highlighted both challenges to and opportunities for the humanitarian disarmament (HD) agenda. For example, as U.S. transfers of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine challenged the Mine Ban Treaty, a record number of countries expressed support for a mine-free world via an annual UN resolution. And, as a small number of countries continued to block progress on a legally binding instrument on lethal autonomous weapons in discussions held via the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, a much larger number in the United Nations pushed to move forward. More broadly, public attention grew on the investment in and production of weaponry of all types (from small arms to nuclear weapons), as well as the need for human rights due diligence, providing opportunities outside of those international bodies to advance restraint.
Join panelists as they discuss these developments and ways to move the HD agenda forward in 2025.
Panelists:
- Erin Hunt, Executive Director, Mines Action Canada
- Hine-Wai Loose, Director, Control Arms
- Susi Snyder, Programme Coordinator, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
- Roos Boer, Project Leader, Humanitarian Disarmament, PAX (moderator)
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade. It is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/4dbQatmzH1k?t=124
U.S. Border: Understanding the Guns and Immigration Link in 2025
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 2025
TIME: 2:00-3:00 PM EST
LOCATION: Virtual
The incoming Trump administration is expected to take as-yet-unclear steps to “secure” the U.S.-Mexico border, to deport millions of people living in the United States, and to loosen controls on firearms. Many worry that this will lead to much greater human suffering, rather than greater security.
Join experts to discuss the connection between U.S. guns and immigration. Some of the topics to be addressed include: how the availability of firearms in the United States contributes to the illicit southern flow of weapons; Mexico’s legal actions to try to stem that flow; and how U.S. sourced weapons create insecurity that drives migration.
Panelists:
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade and Global Exchange, and will be held in English and Spanish with live intepretation (provided by Linguisimo). This event is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/s_daO4DqH8I?t=24
TIME: 2:00-3:00 PM EST
LOCATION: Virtual
The incoming Trump administration is expected to take as-yet-unclear steps to “secure” the U.S.-Mexico border, to deport millions of people living in the United States, and to loosen controls on firearms. Many worry that this will lead to much greater human suffering, rather than greater security.
Join experts to discuss the connection between U.S. guns and immigration. Some of the topics to be addressed include: how the availability of firearms in the United States contributes to the illicit southern flow of weapons; Mexico’s legal actions to try to stem that flow; and how U.S. sourced weapons create insecurity that drives migration.
Panelists:
- John Lindsay-Poland, Coordinator, Stop US Arms to Mexico (see event slides)
- Jonathan Lowy, Founder and President, Global Action on Gun Violence
- Laura Vargas, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus
- Christina Delgado, Southwest Regional Advocacy Associate, Community Justice Action Fund (moderator)
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade and Global Exchange, and will be held in English and Spanish with live intepretation (provided by Linguisimo). This event is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/s_daO4DqH8I?t=24
Frontera de EE. UU.: Entendiendo el vínculo entre armas e migración en 2025
FECHA: Jueves, 16 de enero de 2025
HORA: 2:00-3:00 PM EST
LUGAR: Virtual
Se espera que la próxima administración de Trump tome medidas para "asegurar" la frontera entre EE. UU. y México, deportar a millones de personas que viven en los Estados Unidos y aflojar los controles sobre las armas de fuego. Muchos temen que esto conduzca a mayor sufrimiento humano, en lugar de mayor seguridad.
Únase a expertos para discutir la conexión entre las armas en EE. UU. y la migración. Algunos de los temas que se abordarán incluyen: cómo la disponibilidad de armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos contribuye al flujo ilícito de armas hacia el sur; las acciones legales de México para intentar frenar ese flujo; y cómo las armas provenientes de EE. UU. generan inseguridad que impulsa la migración.
Panelistas:
Este evento es organizado por el Foro sobre el Comercio de Armas (Forum on the Arms Trade) y Nuestra Lucha Global (Global Exchange), y se llevará a cabo en inglés y español con interpretación en vivo (por Linguisimo). Este evento forma parte de una serie especial para elevar el perfil y proporcionar recomendaciones sobre temas clave del comercio de armas y relacionados para 2025. El Foro proporciona una plataforma para las opiniones de expertos, pero no toma posiciones por sí mismo.
Video en español https://youtu.be/DqXZG-cgotI
HORA: 2:00-3:00 PM EST
LUGAR: Virtual
Se espera que la próxima administración de Trump tome medidas para "asegurar" la frontera entre EE. UU. y México, deportar a millones de personas que viven en los Estados Unidos y aflojar los controles sobre las armas de fuego. Muchos temen que esto conduzca a mayor sufrimiento humano, en lugar de mayor seguridad.
Únase a expertos para discutir la conexión entre las armas en EE. UU. y la migración. Algunos de los temas que se abordarán incluyen: cómo la disponibilidad de armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos contribuye al flujo ilícito de armas hacia el sur; las acciones legales de México para intentar frenar ese flujo; y cómo las armas provenientes de EE. UU. generan inseguridad que impulsa la migración.
Panelistas:
- John Lindsay-Poland, Coordinador, Stop US Arms to Mexico
- Jonathan Lowy, Fundador y Presidente, Global Action on Gun Violence
- Laura Vargas, Profesora Asistente, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Colorado, Escuela de Medicina del Campus Médico Anschutz
- Christina Delgado, Socio para Incidencia Regional en Suroeste, Fondo de Acción para la Justicia Comunitaria (moderadora)
Este evento es organizado por el Foro sobre el Comercio de Armas (Forum on the Arms Trade) y Nuestra Lucha Global (Global Exchange), y se llevará a cabo en inglés y español con interpretación en vivo (por Linguisimo). Este evento forma parte de una serie especial para elevar el perfil y proporcionar recomendaciones sobre temas clave del comercio de armas y relacionados para 2025. El Foro proporciona una plataforma para las opiniones de expertos, pero no toma posiciones por sí mismo.
Video en español https://youtu.be/DqXZG-cgotI
Advice for the Next U.S. Congress and President
DATE: Friday, January 17, 2025
TIME: 11:00AM-noon EST
LOCATION: Virtual
During Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration aggressively promoted arms sales, including to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to which he was forced to use vetoes in 2019 to override bipartisan Congressional resolutions of disapproval. Notionally, the Biden administration put in place arms transfer policies that elevated human rights and civilian protection concerns, although his practices have been widely criticized, especially as relates to arms to Israel and certain weapons to Ukraine. With the Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress and Donald Trump returning to the presidency, what should we expect? In this session, leading experts with experience both in and out of government will discuss what they foresee in U.S. arms trade and security assistance and what they recommend be done in the coming year.
Panelists:
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade. It is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/1VN_pL44KEU?t=89
TIME: 11:00AM-noon EST
LOCATION: Virtual
During Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration aggressively promoted arms sales, including to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to which he was forced to use vetoes in 2019 to override bipartisan Congressional resolutions of disapproval. Notionally, the Biden administration put in place arms transfer policies that elevated human rights and civilian protection concerns, although his practices have been widely criticized, especially as relates to arms to Israel and certain weapons to Ukraine. With the Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress and Donald Trump returning to the presidency, what should we expect? In this session, leading experts with experience both in and out of government will discuss what they foresee in U.S. arms trade and security assistance and what they recommend be done in the coming year.
Panelists:
- Sarah Harrison, Senior Analyst, U.S. Program, International Crisis Group
- William Hartung, Senior Research Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
- Josh Paul, Director, A New Policy
- Jeff Abramson, Senior Fellow, Center for International Policy and Director, Forum on the Arms Trade
This event is organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade. It is part of a special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025. The Forum provides a platform for expert views but does not itself take positions.
This event has now taken place. Video is available below as well as at https://youtu.be/1VN_pL44KEU?t=89