Arms embargo is a type of sanctions that prevents the export of weapons to a country or entity. Often, it is combined with other forms of sanctions such as travel bans or financial restrictions.
While arms embargoes are a crucial tool for preventing the illicit transfer of weapons, there remain many challenges to effective implementation. First, the long lifespan of conventional weapons (often referred to as “durable goods”) increases the potential for diversion to non-state actors. Furthermore, the nature of the arms trade – with a focus on commercial transactions that can be carried out anonymously through front companies and third countries – complicates efforts to enforce compliance with arms embargos.
Additionally, the UN process for adopting sanctions packages leaves room for loopholes and exemptions as each of the 15 members of the Security Council sits on a committee that must reach a unanimous decision to approve a package. This gives each member a de facto veto over the effectiveness of any sanctions package, and contributes to the difficulty in creating effective arms embargoes.
Lastly, states regularly violate the terms of an arms embargo to achieve their political and strategic goals. This may include securing access to resources, supporting preferred political partners, strengthening military alliances or increasing interoperability between their armed forces. It may also involve avoiding financing flows by engaging in bartering arrangements such as the notorious “arms-for-oil” deals or using arms as currency for other commodities like drugs, oil or steel.
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