SIPRI: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2023

SIPRI: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2023

GS-3: Defence

(UPSC/State PSC)

Important for Prelims:

Arms imports into India, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report.

Important for Main Exam:

Key points of SIPRI report, Arms import and export in India, Implications for Indian defence system related to the report.

14/03/2024

Why in news:

Recently, according to the Trends in International Arms Transfer 2023 report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India is set to remain the world's largest arms importer from 2019 to 2023.

Key points of the report:

India-Top Arms Importing Country:

  • India leads as the top arms importer, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ukraine, Pakistan and others.
  • India topped the list as the world's largest arms importer during the period 2019-23, which saw a growth of 4.7% compared to 2014-18.
  • These countries received 35% of all arms imports during this period.
  • Nine of the 10 largest arms importing countries in 2019-23 were in Asia and Oceania or the Middle East.

India: Positioned as the world's leading arms importer with 4.7 percent growth in arms imports.

Saudi Arabia: The world's second largest arms importer, receiving 8.4 percent of global arms imports in this period.

Qatar: Third largest arms importer with four-fold increase in arms imports by +396 percent.

Ukraine: Ranked 4th globally.

Pakistan: Fifth largest arms importer globally, arms imports increased by 43 percent.

Egypt: Seventh largest arms importer, importing fighter aircraft and major warships.

Australia: Despite a 21 percent decline in arms imports, Australia is the world's eighth largest arms importer.

Israel: Dependent primarily on the United States (69 percent) and Germany (30 percent) for its arms imports.

 

Arms Suppliers to India:

  • During the period 2019-23, Russia remains India's primary arms supplier
  • However, the share of arms deliveries from Russia has declined and for the first time since 1960-64, its share in India's arms imports has been less than half.

Top arms exporting countries:

  • The five largest arms exporters are the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany, which together account for 75 percent of total arms exports.
  • Other top arms exporting countries are Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Israel and South Korea respectively.

Implications for the Indian Defence System related to the report:

  • Self-reliance in defence production: The main objective of India has been to bring self-reliance in defence production under the Make in India initiative.
  • Geopolitical tensions: Geopolitical tensions with Pakistan and China have forced India to focus on developing a powerful military for defensive purposes.
  • Removing administrative hurdles: Bureaucratic and administrative hurdles create delays in acquiring arms, forcing India to rely heavily on foreign imports to meet military requirements.
  • Reducing import dependence: India's emerging domestic arms industry is struggling to produce advanced weapons, necessitating dependence on imports to meet defence needs.
  • India is attempting to diversify its arms suppliers to reduce its dependence on any one country, but the process may be difficult and time-consuming.
  • Strategic Partnership (SP) Model: To promote indigenous defense production through tie-ups with foreign arms majors for "deep and comprehensive" technology transfer as per the Strategic Partnership (SP) Model May 2017.
  • FDI in defence production: India has attracted only Rs 5,077 crore of FDI in defence production since the sector was opened to private companies in May 2001.
  • This is despite the FDI limit being raised to 74% through the automatic route and 100% through the government route in 2020.

About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI):

  • SIPRI is an independent international institute established by the Swedish Parliament dedicated to research into armaments, arms control and disarmament.
  • It was established in the year 1966 in Stockholm (Sweden).
  • It provides data, analysis and recommendations based on open sources to policy makers, researchers, media and interested public.
  • Its main objective is to conduct research on issues related to international peace and security, including arms control, disarmament and conflict resolution.
  • It is funded by a combination of government grants, private donations and project-based funding.
  • SIPRI's flagship publication is the SIPRI Yearbook, which provides comprehensive data and analysis on global military expenditure, arms transfers and other relevant security issues.

Source: The Hindu

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Mains Question:

Discuss the key points of SIPRI Report, 2023.

India has been leading as the top arms importer in recent years as per SIPRI report. Discuss.