‘India was the top arms importer in 2019-2023’

• According to a recent report by SIPRI, a Swedish think tank, between 2019-23, India has been among the top arms importers of the world with 4.7% increase in arms imports compared to 2014-18.
• At the same time, arms imports by European countries increased by 94% due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Russia is a major arms supplier to India (36% arms imports).
  • It is decreased from its normal trends of 50% arms imports of India.
• 9 out of the 10 biggest arms importers are from Asia and Oceania or the Middle East.
• Ukraine became the fourth biggest arms importer globally after it received transfers of major arms from over 30 states in 2022-23.
• Imports of Pakistan, the fifth largest arms importer in 2019–23, went up by 43%, with China supplying as much as 82% of all its arms imports.

Prelims Takeaway

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
• Map based Question