- Theresa May to visit Turkey this Saturday, following United States visit.
- UK has licensed £355 million worth of arms to Turkey since Erdogan became President in 2014
- Turkey is on the Department of International Trade’s list of ‘priority markets’ for arms exports
Ahead of Theresa May’s visit to Turkey this Saturday, campaigners have highlighted the increasing authoritarianism of the Erdogan government and called on the UK to end arms sales to Turkey. According to the BBC, May is expected to discuss ‘trade, defence and security.’
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
If May is concerned for those being repressed by the Turkish authorities then she must stop the arms sales and use her influence to call for positive and meaningful change.
Turkey is on the Department of International Trade’s list of ‘priority markets’ for arms exports. The UK has licensed over £350 million worth of arms to Turkey since Erdogan took power in August 2014, including £50 million of arms since the attempted coup last July.
Since Erdogan became President on August 28 2014, the UK has licensed:
- £170 million worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £51 million worth of ML13 licences (armoured plate, body armour, helmets)
- £37 million worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
- £34 million worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)
Andrew continued:
Turkey has moved in an increasingly authoritarian direction under President Erdogan, particularly following last summer’s crackdown. There have been major attacks on press freedom and serious allegations of torture.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
