Displaying items by tag: arms trade

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has acknowledged delays in weapons deliveries to Armenia due to the strain of the war in Ukraine. Armenia, a long-time Russian ally, has historically depended on Russian arms amid its bitter decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan. However, as Moscow struggles to meet military commitments, Armenia is increasingly turning to Western partners like France and India for defense support. Lavrov said that these shifts were worrying, especially given France’s strong opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. But Armenia has expressed deepening frustration with Moscow, particularly after Russian peacekeepers failed to prevent the mass exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh during Azerbaijan’s swift military campaign in September 2023. As Armenia rethinks its security alliances, the region remains volatile, with historical wounds and unresolved tensions continuing to shape its strategic decisions.

Catholic bishops and organisations voiced their opposition to the arms trade, as the UK hosted one of the world’s largest arms fairs on 14-17 September for global governments and military delegations, with over 1,500 companies selling guns, bombs, and other weaponry. A statement from the bishops and other concerned organisations emphasised how conflicts fed by the trade harm the world’s poorest communities, forcing people to become refugees. In 2015 Pope Francis said, ‘Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer is simply for money - money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.’ Pray for all the voices of those peacefully campaigning against the arms trade to be heard so that leaders commit to ending it in pursuit of peace.