SIPRI- International Arms Transfers 2022 report

2023 MAR 15

Preliminary   > Security   >   Miscellaneous   >   External sector

Why in news?

  • According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers’ 2022 report, India remained the world’s largest arms importer from 2018 to 2022 followed by Saudi Arabia and Ukraine

About SIPRI

SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It was established in 1966 in Stockholm (Sweden). It provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.

Global Arms Transfer:

  • Gobal level of international arms transfers decreased by 5.1% between 2013–17 and 2018–22.
  • But imports of major arms by European states increased by 47% in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.
  • The U.S. share of global arms exports increased from 33% to 40% while Russia’s fell from 22% to 16%.
  • Arms imports by Pakistan increased by 14% and accounted for 3.7% of the global total with China supplying 77% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2018–22.

India’s Arms Import - Statistics:

  • With an 11% share of total global arms imports, India was the world’s biggest importer of major arms in 2018–22, a position it has held for the period 1993–2022.
  • India remained the top importer despite an 11% drop in its arms import between 2013-17 and 2018-22.
  • Major arms suppliers:
    • Russia was India’s largest arms supplier in the periods between 2013-17 and 2018-22, but its share of arms imports to India fell from 64% to 45% while France emerged as the second-largest arms supplier to India between 2018-22 at 29%, followed by the US at 11%.
    • Russia’s position as India’s main arms supplier is under pressure owing to strong competition from other supplier states, increased Indian arms production, and, since 2022, constraints on Russia’s arms exports related to its invasion of Ukraine.
    • India also imported arms during this five-year period from Israel, South Korea, and South Africa which are among the top arms exporters globally.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. India is the world’s biggest importer of major arms over last few years

2. United States is the India’s largest arms supplier

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer