Exclusive: Cambridge University backtracks on divesting from arms companies
Exclusive: Cambridge University backtracks on divesting from arms companies Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 13:45 University investment body quietly shelved plan for at least partial divestment from weapons companies, sources say Students gather around their tents during a protest organised by Cambridge for Palestine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, eastern England, 7 May 2024…
The University of Cambridge has reportedly reversed its decision to divest from arms companies, MEE has learned. According to sources familiar with the matter, the University Council, Cambridge's central governing body, initially approved a monitoring regime for investments in conventional weapons on April 16. This proposal, initiated by the Cambridge University Endowment Trustee Body (CUETB), aimed to track the endowment fund's exposure to weapons companies.
The proposed threshold for arms investments was later set at zero percent. However, multiple sources confirm that the university has quietly replaced the original plan with a new one, which no longer necessitates divestment. This new approach maintains the zero percent threshold but does not require a reduction in exposure to conventional weapons.
The Cambridge for Palestine group, a student organization advocating for divestment, expressed shock and disappointment over the university's latest decision. They argue that the shift represents a failure to comply with their demands and a lack of transparency in the university's financial dealings.
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