Despite last week’s amazing protests, with more than 100 arrests, the market in guns, tanks, warships, missiles and drones at London’s Excel centre is going ahead this week, attended by more than 35,000 “delegates” (customers) from 68 countries, including Egypt, Bangladesh, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Gulf states. Last year, the government boasted of more than £18 billion in arms sales, with 80% going to the middle east.
Saudi Arabia is there of course – despite their war in Yemen and despite the court ruling that arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful, because no one actually hands over the cash at this arms market.