New Delhi: A latest report has revealed that of 63 exporters, the United States continues to be the largest international exporter of major arms, accounting for 40 per cent of the global share, rising by 14 per cent from 2013-2017. On the other hand, of the 167 major arms importers, India is the largest, with 11 per cent of the global share, and Russia is its primary supplier. However, Russia’s share within Indian imports decreased from 64 per cent to 45 per cent.
The report, released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) — an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, arms control, and more — examined new data on global arms transfers between 2018 and 2022.
While the global volume of arms trade declined by 5.1 per cent between 2018 and 2022 as compared to 2013-17 figures, the SIPRI report found that arms import rose significantly—by 47 per cent— across European states.
“Even as arms transfers have declined globally, those to Europe have risen sharply due to the tensions between Russia and most other European states. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European states want to import more arms, faster,” said Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
Yet, the main arms recipient region in this period was Asia and Oceania, accounting for 41 per cent of arms imports, followed by the Middle East with 31 per cent, Europe with 16 per cent, the Americas with 5.8 per cent, and Africa with 5 per cent.
However, Russian arms exports fell by 31 per cent between 2013–17 and 2018–22, and global share decreased from 22 per cent to 16 per cent, further widening its gap with the US. Russian exports to India, the country’s largest recipient of arms, decreased by 37 per cent while its exports to China rose significantly, to 39 per cent, making it Russia’s second-largest recipient. Currently, China is the fourth largest global exporter of arms.
“It is likely that the invasion of Ukraine will further limit Russia’s arms exports. This is because Russia will prioritize supplying its armed forces and demand from other states will remain low due to trade sanctions on Russia and increasing pressure from the US and its allies not to buy Russian arms,” said Siemon T. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
In contrast, French arms exports increased to 11 per cent of the global share, with its largest recipients being India, Qatar, and Egypt—which received 55 per cent of exports between 2018-2022. India, with a 30 per cent share of exports, was the largest recipient of French arms.
Furthermore, SIPRI revealed that growing perceptions of threats from countries like Russia, China, and North Korea drove rising demand for arms imports in Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, among others.
Most European states substantially increased their arms import orders, highlighting that the Russia-Ukraine war will have significant ramifications for future supplier–recipient arms trade relations globally. European North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) states increased their arms imports by 65 per cent, strengthening their arsenals against Russia.
The report also highlighted that arms imports, especially long-range strike weapons, rose in South Korea by 61 per cent, in Japan by 171 per cent, and in Australia by 23 per cent.
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