Global Arms Trade

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India was the second-largest arms importer during the period between 2020 and 2024, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24, show the recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

About Global Arms Trade

• Ukraine became the largest importer of major arms in the world during the period between 2020 and 2024, clocking a nearly 100-fold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015–2019. 
  • Ukraine received 8.8% of global arms imports in 2020-24.
• Four countries in Asia and Oceania—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia— ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2020-24.
• India was the second-largest arms importer, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
  • The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, a significantly smaller share than in 2015-19 (55%) and 2010-14 (72%).
  • India was the biggest arms export destination for both Russia and France.
• The U.S. further increased its share of global arms exports to 43%,while Russia’s exports fell by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of global arms exports, falling behind France(9.6%), which emerged as the second largest arms exporter in 2020-24. 
• India received by far the largest share of French arms exports (28%)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15%).
• Russia delivered major arms to 33 countries in 2020-24, of which two-thirds went to three countries — India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%).
• European arms imports overall grew by 155% between the same periods as the continent rearms itself.
• China dropped out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, showcasing its expanding domestic industrial base.
• Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 61% between 2015-19 and 2020-24. 
  • China became even more dominant as its supplier, accounting for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2020-24, compared with 74% in 2015–1.
• Global transfer volume: The overall volumeof arms transfers globally remained at roughly the same levelas in 2015-19 and 2010-14 (but was 18% higher than in 2005–2009), as increasing imports in Europe and the Americas were offset by decreases in other regions.

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Global Arms Trade FAQs

Q1. Which country is the largest arms exporter?

Ans. United States

Q2. Which country is the largest arms importer?

Ans. Ukraine 

Q3. What is India’s position in global arms imports?

Ans. India was the second-largest arms importer between 2015-19 and 2020-24.

Source: TH