Restriction of arms supply

Governments may apply restrictions on the sale of arms to another country. Such restrictive measures may only come into force when the recipient country becomes involved in an international conflict, when it is feared that the supply of arms to countries in conflict will implicate the supplier in the dispute and compromise its neutrality. Such policies effectively prevent the supply of spare parts and replacements in times of conflict, thus endangering the military viability of the recipient country and its ability to defend itself against aggression.