GLOBAL ARMS TRADE - REPORT
NEWS: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its latest report on global arms imports and exports on March 10, 2025.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Key Findings on the Global Arms Trade
Global Arms Imports and Exports
1. Overall Volume of Arms Transfers
• The total volume of arms transfers worldwide remained at approximately the same level as in the periods 2015-2019 and 2010-2014.
• However, it was 18% higher than in the period 2005-2009, indicating long-term growth in global arms trade.
2. Regional Variations in Arms Imports
• While Europe and the Americas saw an increase in arms imports, this was counterbalanced by declines in other regions, maintaining an overall stable global trade volume.
3. Ukraine’s Surge in Arms Imports
• Ukraine became the world’s largest arms importer during 2020-2024, marking a 100-fold increase compared to the period 2015-2019.
• This dramatic rise was primarily due to Western military aid and rearmament efforts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
4. India’s Arms Imports Trends
• India ranked as the second-largest arms importer globally, despite a 9.3% decline in its imports between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
5. China’s Declining Dependence on Arms Imports
• China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-1994.
• This shift reflects China's increasing focus on domestic defence production, reducing its reliance on foreign arms supplies.
6. Asia and Oceania’s Role in Global Arms Trade
• Four countries from Asia and Oceania ranked among the top 10 global arms importers during 2020-2024:
India
Pakistan
Japan
Australia
7. Pakistan’s Increased Arms Imports
• Pakistan’s arms imports rose by 61% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, making it a key arms importer in the region.
• China remained Pakistan’s dominant supplier, accounting for 81% of its arms imports.
8. Decline in African Arms Imports
• Arms imports in Africa declined by 44% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, reflecting reduced military expenditures and procurement challenges in the region.
9. Rise in Brazil’s Arms Imports
• Brazil’s arms imports increased by 77% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
• Brazil alone accounted for 49% of all arms imports to South America during this period, making it the dominant arms importer on the continent.
India’s Arms Imports and Suppliers
1. India’s Key Suppliers
• India remained the top arms export destination for:
Russia (36%) of its total arms exports.
France (28%) of its total arms exports.
2. Declining Dependence on Russian Arms
• India’s reliance on Russian arms has steadily declined over the past decade:
2010-2014: 72% of India’s arms imports came from Russia.
2015-2019: 55% of India’s arms imports came from Russia.
2020-2024: 36% of India’s arms imports came from Russia.
3. Major Military Contracts with France
• India has signed several major defence agreements with France, including:
36 Rafale fighter jets (already delivered).
6 Scorpene-class submarines (built under the ‘Make in India’ initiative).
Planned deals for:
26 Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
3 additional Scorpene-class submarines to enhance maritime capabilities.
Major Arms Exporters (2020-2024)
1. United States as the Largest Arms Exporter
• The United States increased its global market share in arms exports to 43%, maintaining its position as the world’s largest arms supplier.
2. Decline of Russia’s Arms Exports
• Russia’s arms exports declined by 64%, dropping its global share to 7.8%, a significant reduction from previous years.
• This decline is attributed to sanctions, production limitations, and Russia prioritizing its own military needs due to the war in Ukraine.
3. France Surpassing Russia in Arms Exports
• France overtook Russia as the world’s second-largest arms exporter, holding 9.6% of the global arms market share.
• France’s growth in arms exports was driven by large defence deals with India, Egypt, and several European nations.
4. Italy’s Rising Position in Arms Exports
• Italy climbed from 10th to 6th place in the global arms exporters ranking.
• It now accounts for 4.8% of global arms exports, reflecting its expanding defence industry.
Factors Contributing to the Rise in Global Arms Trade
1. European Military Build-Up Post-Ukraine Invasion
• European arms imports surged by 155%, driven by rearmament efforts in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
2. Ukraine’s Role in Global Arms Trade
• Ukraine alone accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports during 2020-2024.
• Major suppliers of arms to Ukraine:
United States: 45% of Ukraine’s arms imports.
Germany: 12% of Ukraine’s arms imports.
Poland: 11% of Ukraine’s arms imports.
• At least 35 countries supplied weapons to Ukraine since the war began, making it the largest recipient of international military aid.
3. India’s Continued Military Modernization
• India remains committed to modernizing its military capabilities, focusing on:
Upgrading air and naval forces through acquisitions of advanced fighter jets and submarines.
Diversifying its arms imports beyond Russia, strengthening partnerships with France, the U.S., and Israel.
Boosting indigenous defence production, which has contributed to a slight reduction in arms imports.
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
1. Overview of SIPRI
• SIPRI is a leading global think tank specializing in security, arms trade, and military expenditures.
• Established in 1966, it provides independent research on international conflicts, defence policies, and arms transfers.
2. Comprehensive Global Coverage
• The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database is the only public resource tracking major international arms transfers since 1950.
• It records sales, military aid (gifts), and licensed production of arms between:
Nation-states
International organizations
Non-state actors
3. Data Accuracy and Standardization
• SIPRI measures arms transfer volume rather than financial value, ensuring a neutral, standardized assessment of global arms trade trends.
4. Five-Year Reporting Methodology
• SIPRI reports data in five-year periods to reduce fluctuations in annual arms sales.
• This method provides a more stable and reliable evaluation of long-term trends in international arms trade.
5. Insights from SIPRI 2025 Report
• The SIPRI 2025 report presents key findings on global arms trade trends from 2020-2024.
• It highlights major arms importers and exporters, regional shifts in arms trade, and the impact of geopolitical conflicts on global military procurement.
Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329934.shtml