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The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) in the UK works to end the international arms trade and promote peace, justice and democratic values. CAAT values the diversity of opinion amongst its supporters and is committed to nonviolence in all its work.

The arms business has a deplorable impact on human rights and security, as well as on economic development. Large scale military procurement and and arms exports only reinforce a militaristic approach to international problems.

CAAT considers that, as a minimum, no arms should be procured or exported where they might:
- exacerbate conflict, support aggression, or increase tension
- support an oppressive regime or undermine democracy
- threaten social welfare through the level of military spending
and that there should be progressive demilitarisation within arms-producing countries.

For this to happen, the relationship between government and arms companies needs to become subject to the democratic process, rather than being above it. Government preferential treatment for the arms industry, including subsidies for arms exports, needs to end.

Security needs to be seen in much broader terms that are not dominated by military and arms company interests. A wider security policy would have the opportunity to reprioritise resources according to actual threats and benefits, including addressing major causes of insecurity such as inequality and climate change.