India remains world's top arms importer: SIPRI report

Category : International Published on: March 15 2023

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Despite an 11 per cent drop in its arms import between 2013-17 and 2018-22, India remained the world’s largest arms importer from 2018 to 2022 followed by Saudi Arabia, according to the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
India’s share of the global arms imports was the highest in the past five years at 11%, followed by Saudi Arabia (9.6%), Qatar (6.4%), Australia (4.7%) and China (4.7%), according to data published by the think tank that measures weapons imports over five-year periods.
Russia remained the largest arms supplier to India from 2013 to 2022. Russia’s share in Indian arms imports has declined from 64% to 45%.
France remained the second largest arms supplier to India between 2018-22. India’s arms import from France includes 62 combat aircraft and four submarines.
Between 2018–22, Russia’s arms export to China and Egypt increased by 39% and 44% respectively.
Between 2013–17 and 2018–22, arms imports by Pakistan increased by 14%.
The global level of international arms transfers has decreased by 5.1%.
Import of major arms by European countries has increased by 47% between 2013–17 and 2018–22.
The U.S. share of global arms exports has increased from 33% to 40%.