II. Multilateral arms embargoes

Chapter:

14. Dual-use and arms trade controls

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2021

Author(s):

Andrea Edoardo Varisco

The United Nations Security Council uses its powers under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to impose arms embargoes—that is, restrictions on transfers of arms and related services and, in certain cases, dual-use items—that are binding for all UN member states and which form part of what the UN generally refers to as ‘sanctions measures’.¹ During 2020, 13 UN arms embargoes were in force (table 14.2). The European Union (EU) also imposes arms embargoes under its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) that are binding for EU member states and which form part of what the EU generally refers to as ‘restrictive measures’.² During 2020, 21 EU arms embargoes were in force. Of these EU embargoes, 10 matched the coverage of a UN arms embargo; 3 (Iran, South Sudan and Sudan) were broader in duration, geographical scope or the types of arms covered; while 8 had no UN counterpart. The Arab League had one arms embargo in place (on Syria) that also had no UN counterpart. In addition, one voluntary multilateral embargo imposed by the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, now renamed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE) was in force for arms deliveries to forces engaged in combat in the Nagorno-Karabakh area.³ No new multilateral arms embargo was imposed in 2020.⁴ However, most elements of the UN arms embargo on Iran expired. The European Council discussed a possible EU arms embargo on Turkey but did not impose one.