Thread: And the world's biggest arms importer last year was....

Qatar.

So where the fuck are they sending them I wonder? Or is the place absolutely bristling with weapons?

Qatar, a gas-rich country of just three million people, holds the top spot as the world’s biggest arms importer as of last year. Shipments of weapons to the country increased by 311 percent between 2013-17 and 2018-22.

Qatar ranks as top arms importer despite surge in weapons going to Ukraine | Middle East Eye

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

And the world's biggest arms importer last year was....


Qatar.

So where the fuck are they sending them I wonder? Or is the place absolutely bristling with weapons?

So, a Speaker's Corner thread rather than a World News one, then.

Originally Posted by Edmond

So, a Speaker's Corner thread rather than a World News one, then.

You're quite weird.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Or is the place absolutely bristling with weapons?

It's the Middle East and arms have a nice resale value....

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

You're quite weird.

Yet still able to understand how to post a simple News thread. :-)

Originally Posted by Topper

It's the Middle East and arms have a nice resale value....

Yes but to whom are they selling (or giving)?

It ain't the Palestinians, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by Edmond

Yet still able to understand how to post a simple News thread. :-)

So "Qatar is now the world's number one arms importer" isn't news to you?

You're a bit silly really.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

isn't news to you?

Sure it is.

And if it was posted correctly, it could even be a proper news forum thread. :-)

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Yes but to whom are they selling (or giving)?

Are you assuming its pop guns for the fuzzywuzzies or its it major kit for themselves - lets not forget the spat they had with other arab states notably the number one terrorist sponsors Saud when they were ganged up against and cut off a few years back - i suspect buying this kit with the billions they have is their guarantee of don't fuk with us in the future

Entrepot re label boxes , like the Thais do with fake scent, fags and hags, 200 baht Rolex anyone?

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Are you assuming its pop guns for the fuzzywuzzies or its it major kit for themselves - lets not forget the spat they had with other arab states notably the number one terrorist sponsors Saud when they were ganged up against and cut off a few years back - i suspect buying this kit with the billions they have is their guarantee of don't fuk with us in the future

A country that size doesn't have the military to support that amount of arms. Which is why I would think they are exporting them to someone as a favour.

A big part of the spat with the GCC was the close ties Qatar has with its near neighbour Iran.

Originally Posted by cyrille

A big part of the spat with the GCC was the close ties Qatar has with its near neighbour Iran.

Probably the biggest part. Not to mention the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists.

Although they've reined that in.

Iran could well be the final destination for these arms.

Meanwhile, guess who's supplying the Myanmar junta...

http://https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/16/myanmar-is-a-failing-state-led-by-a-junta-fuelled-by-russian-arms-says-un-rights-envoy

I wouldn't have thought there'd be much of a market over that way for many of the popular arms and vehicles of war after the US gifted the Afghans an inventory that would all be on any tin-pot dictator or responsible shoppers wish-list.

lucky they mentioned that those pics are not to scale. I was assuming the radios were as big as a C-130.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

A country that size doesn't have the military to support that amount of arms.

what amount of arms? the article doesn't mention volume merely value and planes et al soon rack up big numbers

Originally Posted by malmomike77

what amount of arms? the article doesn't mention volume merely value and planes et al soon rack up big numbers

Fair point.

There's a few aircraft in there, mostly from France, which presumably got them the French vote for the World Cup.

Its also not clear if support contract costs are included a la Al Yamamah