India’s status as a leading arms importer and the factors that influence this position are widely acknowledged. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Trends in International Arms Transfers 2022 report outlined India as the world’s largest arms importer from 2018 to 2022, followed by Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. Below, we delve deeper into the report’s findings about India’s arms imports, key global trends in arms transfers, and the role of SIPRI.
Global Highlights of SIPRI Arms Transfers Report
The SIPRI report emphasises certain key global trends in international arms transfers between 2013–17 and 2018–22. It noted a 5.1% decrease in the global level of international arms transfers. However, in the context of the war in Ukraine, major arms imports by European states escalated by 47%. Moreover, the United States’ share of global arms exports rose from 33% to 40%, while Russia saw a decline from 22% to 16%. As for Pakistan, their arms imports increased by 14% during the same period, accounting for 3.7% of the global total, with China supplying 77% of their arms imports in 2018–22.
India: Leading in Global Arms Imports
Despite an 11% drop in its arms imports between 2013-17 and 2018-22, India retained its position as the world’s leading importer of major arms. With an 11% share of total global arms imports, India has maintained this top rank from 1993 through 2022.
Major Arms Suppliers to India
Russia has consistently been India’s primary arms supplier, particularly between 2013-17 and 2018-22. However, over these periods, Russia’s share of arms imports to India dipped from 64% to 45%. This decline has seen France emerge as the second-largest arms supplier to India, contributing 29% of arms between 2018-22, followed by the US at 11%. Pressure from other supplier states, increased Indian arms production, and Russia’s constraints due to its invasion of Ukraine have led to this shift. Additionally, India procured arms from Israel, South Korea, and South Africa during this five-year period.
What Drives India’s Arms Imports?
Geopolitical tensions with neighboring countries such as Pakistan and China primarily fuel India’s demand for arms imports. This demand is also influenced by the need for national security and military preparedness.
The Decrease in India’s Arms Imports
The 11% decrease in India’s arms imports between 2013-17 and 2018-22 can be attributed to several factors. These include a slow and complex arms procurement process, efforts to diversify arms suppliers to reduce dependency on singular sources, and increased domestic production.
India’s Role as an Arms Supplier
During the 2018-22 period, India was noted as the third-largest arms supplier to Myanmar, following Russia and China, comprising 14% of Myanmar’s imports.
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent international institute based in Stockholm, Sweden. It focuses on researching conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. SIPRI contributes data, analysis, and recommendations drawn from open sources to policymakers, researchers, media, and the public interested in these areas.