Opinion - Op-Ed   

Surging global weapons transfers raise concerns

Surging global weapons transfers are raising concerns about arms races in tension-fraught areas of the globe, a leading peace research group warned on Monday.

New data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed that transfers of major conventional weapons rose by 22 per cent in 2005-2009, compared to the previous five-year period.

The U.S. remains the biggest arms supplier, accounting for 30 per cent of weapons exports, while China and India are the biggest importers of conventional weapons, SIPRI said.

It added that Singapore and Algeria had both made the top-10 list of major weapons importers for the first time.

The institute, which uses five-year averages to spot trends in global arms transfers, said the latest data raise concerns about arms races brewing in volatile regions in West Asia, North Africa, South America, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

“Resource-rich states have purchased a considerable quantity of expensive combat aircraft,” Paul Holtom, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, said in a statement. “Neighbouring rivals have reacted to these acquisitions with orders of their own.”

Combat aircraft accounted for 27 per cent of the volume of international arms transfers in 2005-2009, SIPRI said. U.S. deliveries included 72 F-16 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, 52 to Israel and 40 F-15 jets to South Korea.

Russia, the world's No. 2 weapons exporter, delivered 82 Sukhoi fighters to India, 28 to Algeria and 18 to Malaysia, SIPRI said. This year Russia is competing with European and U.S. suppliers for an Indian order of 126 combat aircraft.

Noting Vietnam's order of long-range combat aircraft and submarines in 2009, SIPRI said the current wave of weapons acquisitions in South Asia “could destabilise the region, jeopardizing decades of peace.” — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rediscovering Russia
A fraud of an election
U.S.-Pakistan ties stalk Afghan peace
Thai crisis in a globalised scene
Issue of presidency endangers Iraq
Surging global weapons transfers raise concerns
Road to justice
Lashkar threat
Expanded Open Page
Quota for women
Paid news: introspection time for the media

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu