Italian figures from 2019 show Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ranked as the 10th and 11th largest market for Italian arms exports.
Italy has suspended the sale of thousands of missiles to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to its involvement in the Yemen conflict, imposing a permanent 18-month temporary ban.
“Today I am announcing that the government has pushed back the authors for the export of missiles and aircraft bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” the Foreign Minister said. Italy Luigi Di Maio Friday.
“[This is] action we deemed appropriate, a clear message of peace coming from our country. For us, respect for human rights is an unbreakable promise, ”said Di Maio, who did not mention Yemen but referred to the conflict there when he ordered the first ban in July 2019.
The Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, a campaign group, said the move was “historic” and estimated it would see orders for more than 12,700 orders suspended.
The blocked sales were part of a total installment of more than $ 20,000 million ($ 485m) worth of missiles agreed in 2016 under a central left-wing government led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, its spokesman said. disarmament group.
It “stops, once and for all, the possibility that thousands of Italian orders could go on strike over civilian facilities, causing casualties among the population. or contribute to an already deteriorating humanitarian situation, “the group said.
There was no public response from Saudi Arabia or the UAE prior to its publication.
In 2019, several European Union countries froze arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which is in charge of an arms coalition fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in a conflict that killed tens of thousands of people.
The United Nations cites Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80 percent of its people in need of help.
The latest figures in Italy – dating back to 2019 – show Saudi Arabia and the UAE ranked 10th and 11th in the list of the largest markets for Italian arms exports.
Exports to Saudi Arabia were worth 105.4 million euros ($ 128m), while those to the UAE were worth 89.9 million euros ($ 109.1m).
Saudi, ‘New Renaissance’
Italy’s decision came after a controversy over the appearance of a former Renzi guest at a high-profile event hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Renzi, Di Maio’s long-time opponent, is under Rome’s scrutiny for withdrawing from the ruling coalition earlier this month and forcing Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to resign off.
In Riyadh, he spoke at the Future Investment Campaign – also known as “Davos in the desert” – in a video that resembled a preview by the prince, also known as MBS.
Despite long-standing concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights agenda, Renzi said the Gulf oil monarchy “could be the place for a new Renaissance in the future”.