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While there has been an increased focus on transfers of small arms & light weapons, it is necessary to research transfers of both small arms & major weapons to understand the role of arms in major conflicts. Arms transfers to five countries in conflict -- Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, & Sri Lanka -- in different regions are described. Most governments involved in conflicts in these regions have access to a wide range of suppliers, but fewer suppliers are willing to supply rebel forces. While supplier motives range from economic to foreign policy or humanitarian intervention, the arms that are supplied are often used in ways that are unintended by the supplier. Adapted from the source document.

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.

Since 1997 arms transfers have declined by about 33%. For the period 1997-2001 the USA was the dominant supplier, accounting for nearly half of all deliveries. Russia was the second largest supplier for the period, but for 2001 Russia was the largest supplier. Taiwan was the largest recipient for 1997-2001. For 2001 the People's Republic of China was by far the largest recipient. For 1997-2001 the most important arms transfers in terms of volume were between Taiwan & the US, & China & Russia. The list of main suppliers & main recipients has changed little over the past 10 years. India & Pakistan are both major recipients of arms. They have received weapons or have weapon acquisition plans that could be destabilizing. On the other side of the scale, small imports of weapons have strongly influenced the course of the war in Sierra Leone & relations between West African countries. Competition has increased the importance of offsets, including technology transfers. The Joint Strike Fighter project may point to an unbalanced future transatlantic market. 5 Tables, 1 Figure, 5 Appendixes. Adapted from the source document.

Global arms transfers fell by 26% from 1999 to 2000, with the US accounting for almost 50% of the total. The process of a concentration of a few major arms suppliers & recipients continued. Among the largest suppliers, only Russia showed a substantial increase in arms transfers in 2000. The international arms market has become more commercial, competitive, & complicated. Suppliers have become both competitors & partners on the international arms market as recipients have learned how to use the market skillfully to receive "more for less." Economic, military-political, & technology factors in the arms supplier countries, combined with factors such as real or perceived military threats or countries that are in a phase of modernization, are more important determinants of arms transfers than national or international restrictive arms export policies. This raises questions as to the relationship between increasing national transparency in arms transfers & the democratic control of transfers. 12 Tables, 1 Figure. Adapted from the source document.