By Andalib Akhter /
India has emerged as the world’s largest importer of weapons and military equipment, with 14 per cent share in global arms buyers, while United State is at the top of exporting countries of arm with a 33 per cent share of total arms supplied to the world.
Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia are the next four biggest global importers.
These arms supply data have been released Monday by the Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The assessment was done for a five-year period (2011-2015).
The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons (including sales, gifts and production licences) to states, international organizations and armed non-state groups from 1950 to the most recent full calendar year. SIPRI data reflects the volume of deliveries of arms, not the financial value of the deals.
Titled ‘Trends in international arms transfers-2015’, it says, “India was the largest importer of major arms in 2011–15, accounting for 14 per cent of the global total.”
Six of the top 10 largest arms importers in the 5-year period 2011–15 are in Asia and Oceania: India (14%), China (4.7%), Australia (3.6%), Pakistan (3.3%), Viet Nam (2.9%) and South Korea (2.6%).
Viet Nam’s arms imports rose by 699 per cent. Arms imports by states in Asia and Oceania increased by 26 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15, with states in the region receiving 46 per cent of global imports in 2011–15.
‘China continues to expand its military capabilities with imported and domestically produced weapons,’ said Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘Neighbouring states such as India, Viet Nam and Japan are also significantly strengthening their military forces.’
US top exporter
With a 33 per cent share of total arms exports, the USA was the top arms exporter in 2011–15. Its exports of major weapons increased by 27 per cent compared to 2006–10. Russian exports of major weapons increased by 28 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15, and Russia accounted for 25 per cent of global exports in the recent 5-year period. However, in 2014 and 2015 Russian exports returned to the lower annual levels observed in 2006–10.
Chinese exports of major arms were just above those of France in 2011–15, growing by 88 per cent compared to 2006–10. French exports decreased by 9.8 per cent and German exports halved over the same period.
‘As regional conflicts and tensions continue to mount, the USA remains the leading global arms supplier by a significant margin,’ said Dr Aude Fleurant, Director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘The USA has sold or donated major arms to at least 96 states in the past five years, and the US arms industry has large outstanding export orders, including for a total of 611 F-35 combat aircraft to 9 states.’
Other notable findings
Between 2006–10 and 2011–15 imports by states in Africa increased by 19 per cent. Algeria and Morocco remained the two largest arms importers in the region with a combined total of 56 per cent of African imports.
Due to economic constraints most sub-Saharan African states imported only small volumes of arms in 2011–15, despite many being involved in armed conflicts during that period.
Mexico’s arms imports grew by 331 per cent in 2011–15 compared with 2006–10.
Azerbaijan increased its arms imports by 217 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15.
Arms imports by Iraq rose by 83 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15.
France concluded several major arms export contracts in 2015, including the first two firm contracts for its Rafale combat aircraft.
Imports by states in Europe decreased by 41 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15.