The illicit trade in arms, strategic and dual-use goods has attracted considerable international attention since the end of the Cold War. A particular interest has developed with regard to preventing the diversion of weapons from the licit market into the ‘black market’. This paper focuses explicitly upon the actors suspected of facilitating these diversions - arms brokers. After briefly considering the role played by ‘middlemen’ in the competitive licit arms market, the darker side of arms brokering will be explored.

Two cases involving Baltic States citizens will then be discussed, which illustrate how arms brokers operate from a variety of locations, use corrupt state officials, front companies, flags of convenience and circuitous routes with weak customs and border controls to supply ‘undesirable end-users’. The potential of transport services in the Baltic States for brokering-related services will also be highlighted.

The Baltic States are among the few states which currently have legislation for defining, controlling and monitoring brokering activities. Yet, national controls are insufficient for preventing diversions, which require international co-operation. This paper considers the challenges posed for the Baltic States in this regard, and also the challenges that the Baltic States are posing for traditional thinking about international non-proliferation regimes. The paper concludes by asking: what role for the Baltic States in combating diversions from the licit to illicit arms markets and controlling brokers?