The report sheds light on the often-overlooked threat of weapons falling into the wrong hands. States are realising that corruption significantly drives arms diversion, which undermines security, fuels violence and weakens military readiness.
Drawing on 400 cases of arms diversion across 70 countries, the report identifies common corruption schemes and uncovers how weak systems can be corrupted to divert weapons.
BIRN journalist Sasa Dragojlo is one of the panelists at this event, having worked as a consultant on this report. Serbia’s arms trade and corruption issues are often topics of his investigations.
“Serbia has a significant role in the global arms trade. Serbian-made weapons have found their place in many battlefields all over the world, including proxy wars,” he says.
“In that regard, for Serbia’s ruling elites, profits are the most important, as is fostering good relationships with powerful governments – mostly Western, but also those considered allies to Western powers.
“When that is the goal, turning a blind eye on corruption, or diversion of arms that end up in the wrong hands, is a small price to pay,” Dragojlo adds.
Other panelists include Colby Goodman, Senior Researcher; Mario Blanco, Project Coordinator, Transparency International Colombia; Kyrre Knutsen, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Ministry of Defence; Ara Marcen Naval, Independent Consultant, and Sarah Detzner, Independent Consultant, Security Sector Reform and Governance.
The panel will discuss the report’s main findings, share other important insights and suggest actionable steps to improve arms transfer risk assessments and strengthen institutional resilience against corruption.
The panelists will also consider the significance of international cooperation in ensuring that arms trade practices align with the objectives of the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT.
This cooperation is essential for promoting transparency and accountability, as well as for reducing the global risks associated with arms diversion.
Register HERE to attend this free online event.