Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his officials' recent visit to the March 2022 World Defence show in Saudi Arabia, what assessment he has made of global access to arms produced by Russian manufacturers currently sanctioned by the UK Government.

Russian equipment was present at the World Defence Show (where there was also a Ukrainian stand). Russia’s arms sales are not constrained by any legal restrictions other than those arising from UN arms embargoes. As such, most countries can currently choose to purchase Russian arms.

In these circumstances we believe that a senior UK presence at such events is important to impress upon potential purchasers that alternatives may exist to acquiring Russian weapons. In doing so we hope to deter support for the Russian Arms industry, economy, and potentially Armed Forces.