Addressing the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom characterised illicit small arms and light weapons as a persistent risk across the weapon life cycle-from manufacture and transfer to storage, use and disposal. Citing the UN Secretary-General’s report, the statement pointed to porous borders, weak stockpile management and emerging production methods such as 3D printing as key enablers, and pressed for coordinated action to disrupt diversion in order to protect civilians in conflict settings.
The UK set out a three‑point approach. First, recognising trafficking as a transnational threat, it backed capacity‑building and cross‑regional cooperation to enforce arms embargoes, improve tracing and strengthen stockpile management. This would support customs, policing and defence institutions in affected regions and reduce leakage from state and non‑state holdings.
On tracing specifically, the government referenced the UK‑supported AmTag pilot in Somalia, under which chemical taggants are being introduced to render national ammunition stockpiles fully traceable. Somalia is described as the first country to deploy this technology at national level, enabling investigators to link recovered ammunition to its origin and supply chain and supporting end‑use monitoring.
The statement also signalled continued support for regional and sub‑regional mechanisms. It commended the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative and confirmed UK funding for the Nairobi Protocol review led by the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The review is intended to refresh regional commitments and update implementation guidance across East and Horn of Africa states.
Second, the UK underscored the role of multilateral instruments and transparency tools: the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Arms Trade Treaty, the Global Framework, and the UN Register of Conventional Arms. In combination, these frameworks are designed to prevent diversion, promote responsible transfers and reinforce national control systems through reporting and good practice exchange.
Looking ahead, the UK said it would contribute to the Programme of Action’s expert group on emerging technologies to address challenges posed by polymer, modular and 3D‑printed weapons, and to explore improved marking and tracing. For manufacturers and licensing authorities, this indicates greater attention to new materials, component interchangeability and record‑keeping standards that remain effective after disassembly or on‑demand production.
Finally, the government noted that the harms of diversion are gendered. Citing UN estimates, it stated that between 70 and 90 percent of conflict‑related sexual violence incidents involve weapons and firearms. Marking the 25th anniversary year of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in 2025, the UK argued that effective conventional arms control is a prevention tool and that women should be central to programme design and oversight.
For practitioners, the direction of travel points to tighter sanctions enforcement, enhanced stockpile security and more rigorous tracing. National authorities should anticipate donor programmes that integrate taggant‑based tracing, through‑life record systems and regional information‑sharing. Exporters and brokers may see closer scrutiny of end‑use assurances aligned with Arms Trade Treaty obligations and reporting to the UN Register.
The UK closed by reaffirming its commitment to strengthen sanctions enforcement, improve arms control, and support disarmament and post‑conflict stabilisation. Policy Wire will track subsequent guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and developments at the UN Security Council and Programme of Action expert discussions.