n the metropolis of New Delhi, notwithstanding the swift strides undertaken by the Central government in recent years towards the ‘atmanirbharta’ or self-reliance initiative to indigenize its military apparatus, a fresh report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), unveiled on Monday, posits that India retains its stature as the globe’s foremost arms acquirer.
Per the Swedish think tank SIPRI, India’s “arms acquisitions witnessed a 4.7 per cent surge between 2014–18 and 2019–23. While Russia continued as the principal arms purveyor, constituting 36 per cent of the acquisitions, this marks the inaugural five-year span since 1960–64 wherein Russian (or Soviet Union pre-1991) deliveries comprised less than half of India’s arms imports.”
This report underscores the complexities linked to India’s potential engagement in a two-front war, confronting both China and Pakistan at its borders. Simultaneously, another pivotal revelation from the SIPRI report pertains to Russia constituting 36 per cent of India’s acquisitions—a historic shift since 1960–64, representing less than half of the country’s arms imports.
Despite this, Russia, grappling with the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, remains a prime source of weaponry for India.
It is noteworthy that in October of the preceding year, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan foresaw a diminishing geopolitical relevance of Russia, despite its status as a major nuclear power. He anticipated a more assertive China in the impending times.
This latest report sheds light on India’s endeavors to reduce reliance on Russian arms, a move imperative amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
India’s adversarial neighbors, Pakistan and China, sharing an unyielding friendship as articulated by China’s President Xi Jinping, continue to be staunch allies in terms of defense.
“Pakistan markedly amplified its arms procurements (+43 per cent). Ranking as the fifth-largest arms importer in 2019–23, China solidified its position as the primary supplier, contributing 82 per cent of Pakistan’s arms acquisitions,” the report disclosed.
Arms acquisitions by two East Asian neighbors of China increased—Japan’s by 155% and South Korea’s by 6.5%, as opposed to China’s diminishing arms imports by 44%, largely due to the substitution of imported arms (mostly from Russia) with locally manufactured systems.
“The sustained high levels of arms imports by Japan and other allies and partners of the U.S. in Asia and Oceania primarily stem from a singular concern: apprehension of China’s ambitions,” remarked Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
The U.S., sharing the same perception of a Chinese threat, emerges as a burgeoning supplier to the region. In 2019–23, thirty per cent of global arms transfers were directed to the Middle East.
Three Middle Eastern states—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt—ranked among the top 10 arms importers in 2019–23. Faced with China’s economic and military advancements, the United States witnessed a 17 per cent surge in weapon sales between 2014–18 and 2019–23, elevating its share of global arms exports from 34 per cent to 42 per cent.
France experienced a 47 per cent surge in arms exports between 2014–18 and 2019–23, securing the second position among global arms exporters, narrowly surpassing Russia.
Similarly, amid the geopolitical upheaval in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising alarms for the European Union to augment defense budgets, reliance on arms from the United States is pronounced.
“Approximately 55 per cent of arms imports by European states in 2019–23 were furnished by the USA, a notable increase from 35 per cent in 2014–18. SIPRI Director Dan Smith observed, ‘More than half of arms imports by European states emanate from the USA,’ while concurrently, Europe contributes approximately one-third of global arms exports, encompassing substantial volumes extending beyond the region, reflecting Europe’s robust military–industrial capacity,” as articulated in the report.