1998 Elements on Potentially Destabilising Accumulations of Conventional Weapons
This non-binding document seeks to guide states participating in the 1995 Wassenaar Arrangement in their determination of what constitute ‘destabilising accumulations’ of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons. It is therefore formulated as a list of questions.
When the 1996 Initial Elements were agreed, states were not yet able to agree on detailed criteria for authorising or not arms exports. Paragraph II.5 of the Initial Elements instead stated that:
Participating States agree to work expeditiously on guidelines and procedures that take into account experience acquired. This work continues and will include in particular a continuing review of the scope of conventional arms to be covered with a view to extending information and notifications beyond the categories described in Appendix 3 [indicative list for exchanging information on arms].
It would take another two years of negotiations for the Elements to be agreed.
The Elements outline a set of questions that can be used to determine what are ‘potentially destabilizing accumulations of conventional weapons’. They are of a non-binding character; decisions on export remain the sole prerogative of individual states.
Elements include:
- The motivation of the state under consideration (risk of war, diversion of weapons, violations of human rights or humanitarian law);
- The regional balance of forces and the general situation in the region (territorial or other disputes, excessive accumulation of weapons, risk of arms transfers to be seen as hostile, risk of arms race, existence of arms embargoes or sanctions);
- The political or economic status or standing of the state (ratification of relevant international instruments, share of military expenditure)
- Its operational capability (changes to the regional balance of forces, operational life of the equipment, pertinence of weapons transfers in light of local manpower capabilities, training)
- Its military technology (technological advantage and impact on balance of forces, possibility of indigenous production capability or reverse engineering)
- Other factors (risk to UN Security Council-approved operations, method of import, diversion to terrorist groups or illicit trade; stockpile management and national export controls)
Last updated on: 08 August 2017