LONDON: Britain’s foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Newsnight that he’d like the country to sell even more weapons to Saudi Arabia.
His comments follow closely after the lucrative arms trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia fell under greater scrutiny because of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia is using planes and bombs, which were bought from British companies, in its air campaign against the Houthi rebels. The rebels overthrew the the government of Yemen last year.
Allegations that Saudi Arabia is committing war crimes in the conflict by bombing civilians, are putting pressure on the UK to hold back licensing the sale of more weapons.
When asked by Newsnight whether he would like to see an increase in weapons sold to Saudi Arabia, Hammond said “we’d always like to do more business.”
He acknowledged that “there have been accusations of breaches of international humanitarian law,” but reassured the interviewer that “the Saudi’s deny there has been any breaches of international humanitarian law.” Hammond did concede that there needs to be an investigation to see if Saudi Arabia is telling the truth.
