The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday released its latest report on global arms sales. The report revealed a significant spike in global arms sales, the biggest since 2011-15. India's arms imports have garnered significant attention, with the country ranking second globally in this category. Russia continues to be India's primary defence supplier, accounting for 40 per cent of its imports. However, the report added that India is also actively diversifying its defence procurement sources.

The reason for the increase in arms sales has been attributed to weapon supply to Ukraine and other European states. However, the report added that arms imports to all other world regions have decreased except Europe and the Americas. The report, quoted Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme as saying: "While tensions and conflicts in Asia and Oceania and the Middle East continue to drive large-scale arms imports, the sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10 per cent."

Some of the key findings from the report are as follows:

The SIPRI report noted that the United States continues to maintain its dominance in arms exports. The US supplied 42 per cent of all international arms transfers in 2021-25, which was up from 36 per cent in 2016-20. For the first time in decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38 per cent) instead of the Middle East (33 per cent). Saudi Arabia was the top recipient of the US arms exports (12 per cent).

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The top arms exporters after the US are France, Russia, Germany, Italy, and Israel. According to Zain Hussain, Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, Israel managed to increase its share of global arms exports despite being engaged in war in Gaza and attacks in Iran, Lebanon, Qatar and Syria.

Biggest Arms Importers

The report found Europe to be the biggest arms-importing region. Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom were the biggest importers in Europe. After Europe, Asia and Oceania are the second largest importers of arms between 2021-25.

Where Does India Rank?

According to the report, India was the world’s second largest arms importer. It stated that India still sources 40 per cent of its defence supplies from Russia. However, its dependence on Russia is steadily declining as the share has decreased to 40 per cent from the earlier 51 per cent in 2016-20. India is increasingly turning to Western suppliers and now purchases 24 per cent of its weapons from France.

India is now the second-largest arms buyer globally, surpassing Ukraine in the number one spot. Pakistan, Japan and Australia are also the biggest importers of arms. The report further added that China supplied 80 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2021-25. This figure has increased from 73 per cent in 2016-20.

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