Trends in International Arms Transfers - SIPRI Report

Trends in International Arms Transfers – SIPRI Report

Question - The global arms race has vast implications for national security of India. Discuss the findings of the SIPRI/Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report on Trends in International Arms Transfers.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute/SIPRI has just released the Trends in International Arms Transfers 2014 report

Highlights of the Report

• As per this report, India is the largest importer of arms and military equipment in the world

• It accounts for 15% of global imports and Russia is the majority supplier

• The volume of transfers of major weapons during the period 2010-2014 was 16% higher as against 2005-2009

• The 5 largest exporters during 2010-2014 were the US, Russia, China, France and Germany; they account for 74% of volume of arms exports

• US and Russia supplied 58% of all exports according to the report

• China became the third biggest arms exporter during this period, displacing Germany. In 2005-2009, China was ranked ninth

• Complete exports from all EU member states in 2010-2014 were 16% lower than 2005-2009; during the latter period, EU export volumes were larger than those for US and Russia and lower than these in 2010-2014

• Five top importers during 2010-2014 were Saudi Arabia, India, China, Pakistan and the UAE; they received 33% of all arms imports

• Main recipients in 2010-2014 were Asia and Oceania accounting for 48% of imports followed by Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa

• Between the periods 2005-2009 and 2010-2014, arms imports by African states rose by 45% while it rose by 37% in Asia and Oceania and 25% by the Middle East and 7% by the Americas. Imports by European states fell by 36%

Findings Pertaining to India

• According to the SIPRI report, India is the largest arms exporter in the world during 2010-2014, which is 15% of the global total

• Between 2005-2009 and 2010-2014, imports have risen by 140%

• In 2010-2014, imports of India were 3 times higher than that of neighbouring nations such as China and Pakistan

• Conversely in 2005-2009, India’s imports were 23% below China and double that of Pakistan

• India lacks indigenous, home-grown defence technology; it is dependent on imports

• During the period 2010-2014, Russia has acquired 70% of arm imports of India while the US has acquired 12% and Israel 7%

Facts and Stats

• SIPRI is an independent global research think tank and institute which explores conflict armaments, arms control and disarmament

• It was established in the year 1966

• It provides data, analysis and recommendations associated with open sources to policymakers, media, public as well as researchers

• This is a Stockholm based think tank

• According to the report, of the 10 largest importers of major weapons during the 5 year period (2010-2014), 5 are located in Asia.