Here’s the text of our letter to Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary:

Dear Ms Truss

We are extremely disturbed to see once again that the UK is set to host the world’s largest arms fair and your guest list includes highly controversial representatives from Saudi Arabia.

Just two months after the Court of Appeal ruled that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia were unlawful because of the conflict in Yemen, the UN has this week recognised the UK’s complicity in war crimes in the region, due to its provision of arms and logistical support to a Saudi-led coalition.

While the UK has established itself as the world’s second largest exporter of arms to Saudi Arabia, the European Parliament has confronted these irresponsible sales by repeatedly calling for the implementation of an EU-wide arms embargo to the country. The European Parliament has also requested enforceable sanctions against EU countries that fail to implement common rules, agreed at international level, on the arms trade. These include not granting arms licences when there is a clear risk that they will be used to seriously violate international humanitarian law (IHL). Grave breaches of human rights and IHL in the region has seen some EU countries restricting and refusing export licences to members of the coalition.

As pro-peace British MEPs, we are concerned that the UK’s departure from the EU could uncouple the UK from these common standards. We worry this will result in the UK government’s continued complicity in the conflict in Yemen, and with even less restraint or approbation. We hereby call for an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia to be implemented immediately.

Sincerely
Ellie Chowns, Green MEP for West Midlands
Gina Dowding, Green MEP for North West England
Scott Ainslie, Green MEP for London
Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for South West England and Gibraltar
Alex Phillips, Green MEP for South East England
Catherine Rowett, Green MEP for East of England
Magid Magid, Green MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber