International Arms Transfers

In: SIPRI yearbook: armaments, disarmament and international security, S. 439-538

Abstract

Transfers of major conventional weapons in the period 1998-2002 remained at a low & relatively stable post-Cold War level. The five largest suppliers accounted for about 80% of all major conventional arms transfers. The US was the largest supplier in the five-year period, although Russia was the largest supplier in 2002. The People's Republic of China's move to fourth place in 2002 was a significant rise from previous years. Among the major recipients were countries involved in the war against terrorism. The cases studied suggest that antiterrorism did not result in high levels of major arms deliveries in 2002. The importance of antiterrorist activities for the future trend in transfers of major weapons is unclear. Nonetheless, even low-level & ad hoc transfers of major weapons could become important for smaller suppliers & make a substantial contribution to the military capability of particular recipients. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 3 Appendixes. Adapted from the source document.