Action on Armed Violence has joined a coalition of UK organisations in endorsing a statement urging universities to reject the Defence Universities Alliance, warning that closer ties between higher education and the defence sector risk undermining academic independence and accelerating the militarisation of campuses.

Elbit Systems UK sits at the centre of a dispute over whether British-based subsidiaries indirectly contribute to Israeli military supply chains through licensed exports and corporate links to their Israeli parent company, despite the firm’s continued denial that it manufactures or exports weapons to the Israel Defence Forces.

Arms exports from the UK surged in 2022, as evidenced today in the Campaign Against Arms Trade’s (CAAT) annual report, raising concerns about its global arms trade involvement.

The UK High Court ruled against the Campaign Against Arms Trade’s (CAAT) judicial review, allowing the UK Government to continue licensing arms sales to Saudi Arabia, despite widespread concerns of humanitarian law violations in Yemen.

Oxfam report accuses UK of arming Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite evidence of IHL violations; CAAT lawsuit launched to end arms sales, temporary halt in 2019 overruled in 2020, leading to public criticism and questioning of trade deals vs human rights.