(b) List five ethical factors that would influence the decision to sell arms to foreign governments. (250 words)

Ethical Factors Influencing Arms Sales Decisions

1. Human Rights: The most fundamental ethical consideration is the potential impact on human rights in the recipient country. Arms sales should not contribute to human rights abuses, such as extrajudicial killings, torture, or arbitrary detention. A government’s human rights record must be thoroughly scrutinized before any sale is approved. For example, restricting arms sales to Myanmar following the 2021 coup was a direct response to widespread human rights violations. The principle of ‘due diligence’ requires exporters to assess the risk of their products being used for human rights abuses.

2. Conflict Exacerbation & Regional Stability: Arms sales can fuel existing conflicts or trigger new ones, destabilizing entire regions. Ethical decision-making requires assessing whether the sale will escalate tensions, prolong fighting, or undermine peace processes. The sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the Yemen conflict has been heavily criticized for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and prolonging the war. A key ethical question is whether the arms sale contributes to a ‘balance of power’ that promotes stability or a ‘security dilemma’ that increases the risk of conflict.

3. National Security Interests vs. Global Ethics: While national security is a legitimate concern, it cannot be used as a blanket justification for arms sales that violate ethical principles. Balancing a nation’s own security needs with its moral obligations to the international community is a significant ethical challenge. For instance, providing arms to a country facing external aggression might be justifiable, but only if safeguards are in place to prevent misuse and ensure adherence to international humanitarian law. The principle of ‘responsibility to protect’ (R2P) also comes into play, suggesting a moral obligation to intervene (including through arms embargoes) when a state fails to protect its own population from mass atrocities.

4. Transparency and Accountability: Lack of transparency in arms sales breeds corruption and undermines public trust. Ethical arms export policies require open reporting of sales, end-use monitoring, and mechanisms for holding exporters accountable for violations. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) – entered into force in 2014 – promotes transparency and establishes common international standards for regulating the arms trade. However, several major arms exporting nations, including the United States and Russia, have not fully ratified the ATT, hindering its effectiveness.

5. End-Use Verification & Diversion Risk: Even if a sale is initially deemed ethically acceptable, there is always a risk that the arms will be diverted to unintended recipients, such as terrorist groups or criminal organizations. Robust end-use verification mechanisms are crucial to mitigate this risk. This includes requiring recipient governments to provide assurances about the final destination of the arms and conducting regular inspections. The proliferation of MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) to non-state actors is a prime example of the dangers of diversion, highlighting the ethical imperative for stringent end-use controls.