EU Lifts Arms Embargo on Syria as UK, US and France Want to Help Opposition With Lethal Weapons
Syria, the stage where 21st century’s worst humanitarian crisis is playing out, may soon see an arms race break out.
The world’s most powerful nations - US, UK and France will now be free to supply Syrian rebels with lethal arms to take on Bashar Assad’s regime.
The European Union on Monday decided to lift the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition after June 1.
British foreign secretary William Hague said Europe has now sent “a clear signal to the Assad regime that it has to negotiate seriously, and that all options remain on the table if it refuses to do so.”
Hague along with all other 26 members of the EU, however, added that there were no immediate plans to supply lethal arms to the opposition.
There were significant disagreements among the EU members but Britain and France — the EU’s biggest military powers pushed the bloc to lift its embargo.