A newly-conducted study has found that the vast amounts of arms sold with minimal oversight to Middle Eastern and North African states by the UK and other western nations have increased corruption, spread extremism and destabilized the region.
The study lists 17 nations across Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in which defense budgets are being ramped up and more weapons are being poured in from willing western nations.
It also warns that unless the nations selling arms take responsibility they will end up exacerbating future conflicts in an already destabilized region.