Question: Consider the following statements regarding the International Arms Transfer Report 2018:
1) This report is published by Amnesty International
2) This report mentions that India Continues to be the world’s largest importer of arms
3) The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014–18 was 7.8 per cent higher than in 2009–13
4) Russia’s arms export to India fell by 42 per cent between 2014-18 and 2009-2013
Chose the correct option:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 3 and 4
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- Sweden based think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual report titled ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers-2018’ on March 11, 2019.
- The report mentions the volume of International arms transfer and highlights the key changes in the facts and figures. The report mentions that the volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014–18 was 7.8 per cent higher than in 2009–13.
India perspective:
- The report does a critical analysis of the arms transfer that takes place in India and also highlights the important changes that took place in recent years.
- India is now the second largest importer of arms. The top position is gained by Saudi Arabia switching India to second rank. India still accounts for 9.5 per cent of the global total.
- India’s import of arms decreased by 24 per cent between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018. This is due to delays in deliveries of arms produced under license from foreign suppliers as well as the Make in India initiative of government.
- As per the report, Russia’s arms export to India fell by 42 per cent between 2014-18 and 2009-2013. It accounted for 58 per cent of total Indian arms imports in 2014-2018, compared with 76 per cent in 2009-2013
- During 2014-18 period, India procured Mi-17-V5 helicopters from Russia; maritime surveillance planes, the Boeing P8-I from the US, and UAVs and radars from Israel.
Global trends and highlights:
- United States, Russia, France, Germany and China are the world`s largest exporters of arms accounting for 75 per cent of the total volume of arms exports during 2014-18.
- The five largest importers were Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and Algeria.
- US share of total global exports rose from 30 per cent to 36 per cent. Arms exports by Russia decreased by 17 per cent between 2009–13 and 2014–18.
- France increased its arms exports by 43 per cent and Germany by 13 per cent between 2009–13 and 2014–18.
- Arms imports by states in the Middle East increased by 87 per cent between 2009–13 and 2014–18 and accounted for 35 per cent of global arms imports in 2014–18.
- Saudi Arabia became the world’s largest arms importer in 2014–18, with an increase of 192 per cent compared with 2009–13.
- States in Asia and Oceania received 40 per cent of global arms imports in 2014–18, but there was a decrease of 6.7 per cent compared with 2009–13.
Links:
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/global-arms-trade-usa-increases-dominance-arms-flows-middle-east-surge-says-sipri
https://www.news18.com/news/india/after-8-years-saudi-arabia-displaces-india-as-worlds-largest-importer-of-weapons-2063873.html
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/russia-arms-exports-to-india-fell-by-42-between-2014-18-2009-13-report-2006107