September will see the DSEi arms fair return to London in a year that has seen political and commercial support falling away from the UK arms trade.
DSEi's current owners Reed Elsevier - best known as publishers - announced in June that they would sell their arms fairs by the end of 2007.
The news followed a campaign co-ordinated by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) which included Reed's own writers and shareholders. Commentators have now predicted a reduction in Government support for DSEi, following the closure of DESO [see above].
This is likely to make the purchase of DSEi less appealing to potential buyers, already deterred by the activism faced by Reed.
In this context, CAAT believes that public opposition to the arms trade can bring an end to DSEi, ensuring that this is the last year that an arms fair comes to London.