wapengeving

Wapengeving (Dutch for "weapon giving") refers to the act or practice of supplying weapons or military equipment from one actor to another. It covers a range of arrangements, including official military aid from sovereign states, arms sales under licensing regimes, security sector reform packages that include equipment, and humanitarian or charitable donations of weapons to friendly governments or organizations. The term is used in policy debates, international law, and arms-control discussions to describe both state and, in some contexts, non-state transfers.

Legal and policy framework: Internationally, wapengeving operates within a matrix of treaties, sanctions regimes, and export-control laws. The United Nations imposes arms embargoes; regional bodies impose restrictions; the Arms Trade Treaty sets common standards for consent, end-use assurances, and risk assessment. National regimes typically require licenses, end-user certificates, and monitoring to prevent diversion.

Types and mechanisms: Transfers can be bilateral arms deliveries, loans and grants (military aid), or commercial sales. They may be tied to political and military cooperation, training, or reform of security forces.

Concerns and debates: Proponents argue wapengeving supports defense, deterrence, peacekeeping, or stabilization. Critics warn of risks such as human-rights abuses, escalation of conflicts, and diversion to non-state actors; there is emphasis on transparency, human-rights screening, and end-use monitoring.

See also: arms trade, military aid, security assistance, small arms control, end-use monitoring.