Wales stands at a political and economic crossroads. A choice between a steeply rising ‘defence’ spending, based on spreading a fear of others and placing the UK on a permanent war footing, and truly defending our communities with quality housing, health and social care, food and clean water, decent incomes and creating ecological stability that will protect us from the impacts of global warming.
Plaid Cymru has a track record of advocating for the latter and not the former:
We therefore call on the new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government to stand again with peace and anti-war campaigners and cancel the Defence Security Resilience Cymru summit taking place on September 3 and 4 at the International Convention Centre at Celtic Manor in Newport.
The Welsh Government is currently co-organising the summit with Business in Focus, ADS Group and General Dynamics Land Systems.
ADS Group has been described as the trade body for the UK arms industry, representing major weapons companies and promoting the interests of arms manufacturers.
General Dynamics Land Systems is a subsidiary of General Dynamics, one of the world’s largest arms companies. General Dynamics has supplied weapons to the Israeli military during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
This summit will align Wales with the UK Government’s programme of military expansion and a wider global arms race.
The former Labour Welsh Government’s argument was that expanding the arms industry will create jobs, with defence-linked employment repeatedly presented as indispensable. Yet reliance on a small number of high-risk defence contracts exposes Welsh communities to volatility, political decisions made in Westminster and ethical controversies surrounding arms exports.
The skills of our engineers, technicians, scientists and workers should be directed towards socially useful production in areas such as renewable energy, public transport, affordable housing and rebuilding our public services.
Every pound diverted into excessive military spending is a pound not invested in tackling the real crises facing Wales, from climate change and poverty to the shortage of affordable housing and pressure on public services.
Should the new Welsh Government proceed with this Arms Fair; the anti-war, peace and solidarity movements will co-ordinate a mass demonstration outside the summit, to state loud and clear that the Welsh people want a future of Welfare not Warfare.
Stop the War Cymru; CND Cymru; Cymdeithas y Cymod, Heddwch ar Waith, Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cymru, Amnesty Cymru and Cymru Cuba