SIPRI Data : Highlights
The latest data on international arms transfers from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India emerged as the leading arms importer globally during the period from 2019 to 2023.
- During this timeframe, India’s imports increased by 4.7% when compared to the period from 2014 to 2018.
Highlights of Recent SIPRI Data:
- Nine of the 10 biggest arms importers in 2019–23, including the top 3 of India, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, were in Asia and Oceania or the Middle East.
- Notably, Ukraine also rose as the 4th-largest arms importer globally during this period.
- The United States, the largest arms supplier globally, witnessed a 17% growth in arms exports between the periods 2014 –18 and 2019–23.
- Concurrently, France ascended to become the world’s second-largest arms supplier.
- Europe accounted for a third of global arms exports, with a strong military-industrial capacity.
- In contrast, Russia experienced a significant decline of more than half, with a decrease of -53%
- Although Russia remained India’s primary arms supplier, accounting for 36% of its arms imports, this marked the first five-year period since 1960-64 where Russian deliveries made up less than half of India’s total arms imports.
- India is now increasingly turning to Western countries like France and the USA, as well as boosting its domestic arms industry, to meet its growing defence needs.
