“Weapons, wealth, and health: the arms industry as a commercial determinant of health,” British Medical Journal (Sept. 1, 2025), co-authored with Mark A. Bellis et al.
As governments worldwide increase defence spending and arms company revenues climb, we urgently need to examine how the arms industry (and not just its products) influences health.
Governments often justify investment in weapons in the name of national security, but the use of arms, whether deployed by militaries, paramilitaries, criminals, or civilians, causes loss of life and injury and poses a substantial threat to global health. The large global arms industry comprises state owned enterprises, private firms, and hybrid public-private models, and its profit driven interests have a growing influence on global agendas and on governmental defence and security policies through lobbying, political donations, and close institutional relationships.
0 Comments