Capitals-Sana
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will suspend licenses to export new weapons to the Turkish regime over its aggression on Syrian soil, British Foreign Secretary Dominique Rapp said on Wednesday.
"The UK government bears its responsibilities in controlling the export of arms seriously," Rapp told Reuters in parliament.
He added: "No further export licenses will be granted to Turkey for items that may be used in military operations in Syria."
The Financial Times revealed earlier in the day that the British government intends to review all arms export licenses to the Turkish regime against the backdrop of its aggression on Syrian territory and that according to leaked information, British ministers ordered a full review of arms sales to Ankara, which could be used in Syria while suspended Grant new licenses pending review results.
France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and the Czech Republic have suspended the export of any new arms shipments to the Turkish regime after its aggression on Syrian territory, while EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday called on member states to consider similar restrictions as fears of Turkish aggression worsened.
Sweden also announced today the withdrawal of licenses to export weapons and other products of military industries to the Turkish regime against the backdrop of its military aggression on the territory of northern Syria.
The Swedish Strategic Products Inspection Office said in a statement quoted by the RIA Novosti agency that the office is withdrawing from today all licenses in force to export equipment and other military products to Turkey.
A number of European countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands and others, have decided to freeze the export of arms and military equipment to the Turkish regime against the backdrop of its aggression and Britain has announced a freeze on the issuance of new licenses to export arms.
In turn, Spain suspended today the sale of military equipment to the Turkish regime against the backdrop of its aggression on Syrian territory, stressing that this aggression threatens the sovereignty of Syrian territory and the stability of the region.
The Spanish government, which is one of the largest arms exporters to the Turkish regime, according to Agence France-Presse on the need to stop this system of military aggression on Syrian territory, stressing that this aggression endangers the stability of the region and increases the number of displaced and threatens the sovereignty of Syrian territory.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "In coordination with its European Union allies, Spain will refuse any new export licenses for military equipment to Turkey that could be used in its military operation against Syria."
A number of European countries, including Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and others, have decided to freeze the export of arms and military equipment to the Turkish regime against the backdrop of its aggression and Britain has announced a freeze on the issuance of new licenses to export arms.