No unconditional support to arms industry, says Welsh government

The Plaid Welsh government said it won't give unconditional support to the defence industry - the same day a defence trade show that it has sponsored opened in Newport.

It is drawing up a new ethical policy on investing in the sector, a minister said the administration did not want to support companies which sell arms to countries "who carry out genocide".

Reform accused Plaid of putting its "political ideology" above thousands of jobs, while the Tories described the new policy as an "investment freeze" at a dangerous time.

The Welsh government is helping to sponsor the event in Newport but has not sent a minister. A 72-year-old woman and seven others were arrested at a protest outside.

Phil Jones, chief executive of Business in Focus which is organising the event, said everyone taking part was doing it "for the right reasons".

In a statement, Enterprise Minister Adam Price said his government "is committed to international solidarity and the rule of international law".

"We have consistently opposed the provision of arms or military support where there is a clear risk that it could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law or international human rights law," he said.

He said work was underway "to establish an ethical framework governing Welsh government engagement with the defence sector".

Around 16,000 people work in the aerospace and defence industry - Price said the government works with the sector to safeguard employment and investment.

"Public support for the sector cannot, however, be unconditional," he said.

The Defence Security Resilience Cymru conference opened on Thursday at the International Convention Centre, near the Celtic Manor Resort.

The event describes itself as "connecting buyers, suppliers and innovators across defence, security and national resilience" sectors.

Jones said Wales was "making a really bold statement about not only what we need to do in a really uncertain world with many geostrategic threats that our nation faces.

"But also, and equally importantly, the capabilities that we have here in Wales and across the UK that can be brought to bear to counter those threats."

He said everything happening there "was within an ethical framework" and welcomed the Welsh government's announcement.

"I'm very confident that everyone who is here today is here for the right reasons, underpinned by the right values, and are all part of the ethical framework that is already in place."

Outside the event, a protester told BBC Wales: "We are here to disrupt the marketplace of murder which is being facilitated by the Welsh government."

Gwent Police said a 72-year-old was arrested at the protest on suspicion of breaching the peace, while a further seven people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

All were in custody late Thursday afternoon.

Plaid Cymru politicians have complained about previous Welsh governments taking part in defence trade shows in the past.

Adam Johannes, from Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, told Radio Wales Breakfast: "We think this arms fair today is knocking us into a huge military expansion that's diverting resources from the real problems of our society."

He said it was "quite astonishing for the Welsh government to be co-sponsor".

"Adam Price the enterprise minister was advertised as a keynote speaker and then when people started opposing it, it was claimed it was a mistake that he was advertised as a speaker."

The Welsh government provided £60,000 for the event. Despite being mentioned in a press release as a speaker, the government said Price had never accepted an invitation to attend, and had not planned to go. Officials are attending, however.

Interviewed on Radio Wales Breakfast on Thursday morning, Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor, said the sponsorship of the trade fair was "part of the agreement" made by the previous Labour government.

"You have to respect agreements," he said.

But he added: "I don't think we will see this happening in future in this same way, because we are bringing together an ethical framework around this

"So that we make sure that whatever the Welsh government does is framed in that ethical way - so that we don't have companies who we know might sell arms to organisations and countries who carry out genocide, for instance.

"We have been clear... in the issue around the genocide we've seen in Gaza, that we don't want to support organisations and companies who provide arms for those wars being carried out."

A 2025 report of a UN commission of inquiry said Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim that Israel has strongly denied.

The Welsh government said: "The Defence Security and Resilience Cymru conference is not a government-organised event.

"We have a presence at the event at official level to support Welsh businesses to find opportunities in several sectors including critical infrastructure, security and supply chain resilience."

Jason O'Connell, Reform UK Wales' spokesperson for Economy and Transport, said: "Plaid Cymru should not be putting their political ideology above thousands of defence jobs based here in Wales.

"At a time when the world is becoming increasingly uncertain, Wales and the United Kingdom need a strong defence industry to keep us secure at home and abroad."

Darren Millar, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: "There has rarely been a more dangerous time for the Welsh government to send out such a negative message about our defence industry."

He added: "The Plaid government's actions risk sending a message to the UK government and investors that Wales is hesitant about supporting the defence industry just as major decisions are being made about where increased defence spending should go."