As I walked through the less-crowded halls of SOFEX 2024, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much this event has changed since its inception. The Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference, held biannually in Jordan, has long been one of the world’s premier arms fairs, attracting governments, military contractors, and weapons manufacturers from across the globe.
This year, however, the spectacle felt muted. The buzz, the extravagant displays of cutting-edge military technology, and the sheer volume of international players were noticeably scaled back.
The reasons for this are obvious—Jordan is situated uncomfortably close to some of the world’s most volatile regions, including the war raging between Israel and Gaza. Yet, the real story here is not just about a shrinking event, but about the wider implications of global militarization, hypocrisy, and the convenient ignorance of certain political realities.
The History of SOFEX
SOFEX, launched in 1996 under the patronage of King Abdullah II of Jordan, was designed to showcase the latest in military and defense technologies. Initially, it was a small event, but it quickly grew into one of the world’s most important arms fairs. By the early 2000s, it had become a magnet for defense contractors, military officials, and heads of state looking to bolster their arsenals with the newest weapons. Jordan, with its strategic position and stable monarchy, was the ideal location for such an event.
Over the years, SOFEX has been the platform for announcing massive arms deals and fostering relationships between countries eager to grow their defense capabilities. From helicopters and armored vehicles to drones and missile systems, SOFEX has been a marketplace where billions of dollars change hands, all in the name of security.
Participants of SOFEX 2024
While SOFEX has historically attracted hundreds of exhibitors from over 40 countries, 2024 told a different story. Many of the big players were absent, particularly from Western Europe and North America. Companies like Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, which would normally roll out their most impressive tech, opted for scaled-down displays or skipped the event altogether.
Still, there were notable participants. Turkey, a rising power in the defense sector, had a significant presence. Their Bayraktar drones have made headlines in recent years, particularly in conflicts across the Middle East and Eastern Europe. China, too, brought its share of hardware, including air defense systems and AI-driven technologies, eager to make deals in a region where its influence continues to grow.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, perennial SOFEX participants, showed up in force, albeit more quietly than in previous years. Jordan, as the host nation, did its best to hold the show together, with local companies and the Jordanian Armed Forces presenting their homegrown military products. But the overall vibe was subdued.
A Much Smaller Affair
The fact that SOFEX 2024 was smaller is hardly surprising given the geopolitical realities. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has sent ripples of unease throughout the region. It’s a stark reminder that war, while profitable for some, can deter others from participating in events like these. But what struck me most was the hypocrisy.
Several countries, especially in the West, declined to send representatives, citing security concerns due to the conflict in Gaza. Yet these same countries, and the companies within them, continue to profit enormously from the arms industry. The military-industrial complex, after all, thrives in times of war. Nations refuse to step foot in a place too close to conflict but have no problem selling the tools that fuel those conflicts in the first place.
The Money Behind War
The global arms trade is worth a staggering $1.9 trillion annually. That’s not a typo. We’re talking trillions of dollars poured into producing weapons—guns, tanks, fighter jets, missiles, and more. This massive industry is sustained by ongoing conflicts around the world, with the Middle East being one of the most lucrative markets.
For the military-industrial complex, war is business. The conflicts raging across the globe aren’t just tragedies; they’re opportunities. Every missile launched, every drone deployed, every piece of hardware destroyed in combat needs to be replaced, and someone, somewhere, is profiting from it.
SOFEX, in this sense, has always been a marketplace for those profiting from global insecurity. Deals are struck behind closed doors, and contracts worth millions are signed, all under the guise of ‘defense.’ But we all know what’s really happening—war keeps this industry alive. The more conflict, the more weapons are needed, and the more money changes hands.
The Hypocrisy of War
What I found particularly troubling at SOFEX 2024 was the reluctance to address the elephant in the room. The conflict between Israel and Gaza loomed large over the event, yet there was almost no mention of the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. Jordan, the host nation, with its historical ties to Palestine and a significant Palestinian population, remained conspicuously silent on the issue.
The arms deals being brokered in the shadows here are designed for conflicts much like the one in Gaza. Yet, while weapons systems are being showcased and marketed, the plight of the Palestinians was all but ignored. It was a striking example of the disconnect between the realities of war and the business of selling weapons.
The Elephant in the Room: Palestine
Jordan has long been a key player in the politics of the Middle East, but this year, its silence on Palestine was deafening. For a country that shares such a close connection to the Palestinian cause, the lack of public discourse at SOFEX was telling. Instead, the focus remained on ‘regional security’—a convenient euphemism for maintaining the status quo and continuing arms sales.
Western nations, too, played their part in this charade. While there was plenty of talk about ‘security’ and ‘defense,’ no one seemed willing to address how those same weapons being sold here were used to oppress and kill Palestinians just across the border. The selective silence was both infuriating and predictable.
Conclusion: SOFEX in the Shadow of War
Attending SOFEX 2024 was a sobering experience. The event, once a massive showcase of military might, was smaller and quieter this year, but the hypocrisy was louder than ever. Countries and companies that profit from war seemed hesitant to be seen near an actual conflict, yet the deals struck here will undoubtedly fuel the next one.
As I left the exhibition grounds, I couldn’t shake the feeling that SOFEX, like the arms industry itself, is emblematic of a world where profit is valued over people. And while the show may have been smaller this year, the grim reality remains—war is good business, and SOFEX, for all its pretensions of ‘defense,’ is a key cog in that machine.