An arms embargo is a restriction or a set of sanctions that applies either solely to weaponry or also to "
dual-use technology
In politics, diplomacy and export control, dual-use items refer to goods, software and technology that can be used for both civilian and military applications. ." An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:
* to signal disapproval of the behavior of a certain actor
* to maintain neutrality in an ongoing conflict
* as a peace mechanism that is part of a
peace process
A peace process is the set of political sociology, sociopolitical negotiations, agreements and actions that aim to solve a specific armed conflict.
Definitions
Prior to an armed conflict occurring, peace processes can include the prevention of ...
to resolve an armed conflict
* to limit the ability of an actor to inflict violence on others
* to weaken a country's military capabilities before a
foreign intervention
Historical examples
Argentina
US President
Jimmy Carter imposed an arms embargo on the
military government of Argentina in 1977 in response to
human rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
abuses.
An arms embargo was put in place, along with other economic sanctions by the
European Economic Community (EEC), within a week of the
1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands by
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
, two
British dependent territories in the
South Atlantic. The European nations ended the embargo after the end of the ensuing
Falklands War
The Falklands War () was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British Overseas Territories, British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and Falkland Islands Dependenci ...
, and Argentina looked to Western European countries and Israel for arms supplies during the US embargo until it was lifted in 1989.
[
]
Indonesia
The US government imposed an arms embargo against Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
in 1999 because of human rights violations in East Timor. The embargo was lifted in 2005.
Iran
The United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
imposed economic sanctions against Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
following the Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
in 1979. However, to secure the release of American hostages, several senior Reagan administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran in the 1980s in a scandal called the Iran–Contra affair. In 1995, the US expanded sanctions to include firms dealing with the Iranian government.
In March 2007, UN Security Council Resolution 1747 tightened the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with the Iranian nuclear program. The sanctions were lifted on 16 January 2016.
In September 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the imposition of an arms embargo on the Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics and other entities involved in Iran's nuclear program, including the government of the disputed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for providing weapons to Iran.
On 18 October 2020, Iran announced that the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
conventional arms embargo imposed on the country in 2007 had expired. The embargo had barred Iran from purchasing arms, including tanks and fighter jets, from foreign nations. The embargo was lifted as per the conditions under Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world leaders, despite US objections.
Israel
During 2024, due to the genocide in Gaza, several countries such as Italy, Japan, Spain, Canada, Colombia, the Netherlands and Belgium have ceased the sale of weapons to Israel.
People's Republic of China
The United States and the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
stopped exporting arms to China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
after 1989 after the violent suppression of protests in Tiananmen Square. In 2004 and 2005, there was some debate in the EU over whether to lift the embargo.
Somalia
On 1 December 2023 after 31 years the United Nations Security Council lifted the longest arms embargo on the Somali Armed Forces and the Somali federal government, while continuing sanctions against the Al-Shabaab militant group.
South Africa
UN Security Council Resolution 418 applied an arms embargo of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
in 1977 on dual-use items. The embargo was lifted by Resolution 919 in 1994.
United States
To protest the Vietnam War, Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
imposed an arms embargo on the United States in 1966. That notably deprived Navy SEALs of the Carl Gustav m/45 submachine gun, which resulted in the creation of the Smith & Wesson M76.
List of current arms embargoes
The countries included in the list are under arms embargo of the UN or another international organization such as the EU and the OSCE and others) or a country. In some cases the arms embargo is supplemented by a general trade embargo, other sanctions (financial), or travel ban for specific persons. In some cases, the arms embargo applies to any entity residing or established in the country, but in others. it is partial with the recognized government's forces and international peacekeepers being exempted from the embargo.
Arms embargo by UN
* ( non-governmental forces by UN, EU), 2003/1993–
* (by UN),
Former embargos
* (by UN, EU), 2010–2018
* (by EU), 2009–2014
Arms embargo by others
* (by the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
) 1982–
* (by OSCE), 1992–
* (by OSCE), 1992–
* (by EU),
Former embargos
* (by EU), 2011–2013
* (by US) 1975–1978
* (by EU), 2005–2009
See also
* Arms control
* Arms Export Control Act (United States)
* Arms industry
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[{{cite web , title =Remarks of SRSG Ghassan Salamé to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Libya 29 July 2019 , website= UNSMIL , date =2019-07-29 , url = https://unsmil.unmissions.org/remarks-srsg-ghassan-salam%C3%A9-united-nations-security-council-situation-libya-29-july-2019 , access-date = 2019-09-09 , archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20190909232646/http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https://unsmil.unmissions.org/remarks-srsg-ghassan-salam%25C3%25A9-united-nations-security-council-situation-libya-29-july-2019 , archive-date= 2019-09-09 , url-status=live]
External links
Hellström, Jerker (2010) "The EU Arms Embargo on China: a Swedish Perspective", Swedish Defence Research Agency
US Bureau of Industry and Security
SIPRI database of multilateral arms embargoes since 1950
Arms control
Embargoes
Peace mechanisms