India’s arms import trends indicate a shift in the nation’s defense strategy, according to a recent publication by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Over the course of five years from 2011-2015 to 2016-2020, India’s arms imports saw a reduction by approximately one-third or 33%.
India’s Position in Global Arms Import
Despite the reduction, India continues to be a major player in global arms import. India holds the position of the second-highest importer, coming behind Saudi Arabia. However, it is noteworthy that the source countries supplying India with arms have seen some changes between the two study periods.
Changes in Arms Suppliers to India
Historically, Russia has been the largest supplier of arms to India, maintaining its position in both periods (2011-2015 and 2016-2020). Although Russia remains the main supplier, its share in Indian arms imports reduced substantially, dropping from 70% to 49%. The second and third largest suppliers to India in the period of 2016–20 were France and Israel, respectively. The arms imports from France shot up by 709% and those from Israel increased by 82%. The USA, even though it was the second-largest supplier to India in 2011–15, slipped to the fourth position in 2016-20.
India’s Rise as an Arms Exporter
India’s role on the global stage is not confined to importing arms. SIPRI reveals that India contributed to 0.2% of total global arms exports during 2016-20, making it the world’s 24th largest exporter of major arms. This denotes a massive increase of over 200% in comparison to the country’s export share of 0.1% during 2011-15. Major recipients of Indian military hardware during this period included Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius.
Future Trends in India’s Arms Import
SIPRI anticipates that India’s arms imports may see an increase in the coming years. This is due to rising threats from neighboring countries including Pakistan and China, as well as significant delays in domestic defense manufacturing.
Factors Influencing Reduction in India’s Arms Imports
The key reason for the drop in arms imports is not attributed to India’s push towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing. In fact, more than 60% of the capital expenditure for the armed forces has been allocated for domestically produced weapons and platforms. The main cause behind this decrease lies in India’s complex procurement processes along with a conscious effort to decrease reliance on Russian arms.
Global Scenario of Arms Transfers
According to SIPRI, the top five global arms exporters from 2016-2020 were the US, Russia, France, Germany, and China. Major arms transfers on the global front remained steady from 2011–15 to 2016–20. The USA, France, and Germany saw substantial increases in transfers, but this was counterbalanced by declines in Russian and Chinese arms exports.
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to researching into conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. Initiated in 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden, the institute provides data, analysis, and recommendations to policymakers, researchers, the media, and the public based on open sources.
