Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Global arms trade highest since Cold War: Study

STOCKHOLM — Worldwide arms trade has risen to its highest level since the Cold War in the last five years, driven by a demand from the Middle East and Asia, a study said on Monday (Feb 20).

Thanks to demand from Asia and the Middle East, the last five years has seen an increase in the trade of military arms. Photo: www.freeimages.com

Thanks to demand from Asia and the Middle East, the last five years has seen an increase in the trade of military arms. Photo: www.freeimages.com

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

STOCKHOLM — Worldwide arms trade has risen to its highest level since the Cold War in the last five years, driven by a demand from the Middle East and Asia, a study said on Monday (Feb 20).

From 2012 to 2016, arms imports in terms of volume by countries in Asia and Oceania accounted for 43 per cent of global imports, a 7.7 rise compared to the previous 2007 to 2011 period, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

“Transfer of major weapons in 2012 to 16 reached their highest volume for any five-year period since the end of” the Cold War, the independent institute said in a statement.

The share of Asia and Oceania in international imports was slightly higher (44 per cent) between 2007 and 2011.

The share of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf monarchies jumped from 17 per cent to 29 per cent, far ahead of Europe (11 per cent, down seven points), the Americas (8.6 per cent, down 2.4 per centage points) and Africa (8.1 per cent, down 1.3 points).

“Over the past five years, most states in the Middle East have turned primarily to the USA and Europe in their accelerated pursuit of advanced military capabilities”, said Mr Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

“Despite low oil prices, countries in the region continued to order more weapons in 2016, perceiving them as crucial tools for dealing with conflicts and regional tensions,” he added.

Sipri said worldwide arms imports and exports over the last five years have reached a record level since 1950.

Saudi Arabia was the second largest importer of weapons in the world (up 212 per cent), behind India, which unlike China, does not have a production at national level yet.

The United States remains the top weapons exporter with a 33 per cent market share (up 3 point), ahead of Russia (23 per cent, down 1 point), China (6.2 per cent, up 2.4 points) and France (6.0 per cent, down 0.9 points) passing Germany (5.6 per cent, down 3.8 points).

These five countries account for almost 75 per cent of global exports of heavy weapons.

France’s boost in the export ranking is a result of important contracts signed with Egypt, which acquired Mistral-style warships and Rafale combat aircraft.

Dr Aude Fleurant, head of the armaments programme at Sipri, told AFP that “competition is fierce among European producers” with France, Germany and Britain in the lead.

The United States and France are the main weapons providers for the Middle East while Russia and China are the main exporters to Asia. AFP

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.