Suchergebnisse

STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE ARMS MARKET ARE ILLUSTRATED THAT HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR CHANCES TO CONTROL ARMS TRANSFERS. THERE IS AN INCREASED THREAT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN US AND USSR RESPECTIVE ARMS CLIENTS, THERE IS A GREATER RISK OF REGIONAL WAR, AND IMPORT OF ARMS PRESENTS SERIOUS ECONOMIC BURDENS FOR IMPORTING THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. ALL OF THESE DANGERS ORIGINATE IN THE LACK OF POLITICAL WILL AMONG BOTH SUPPLIERS AND RECIPIENTS. PROSPECTS FOR INCREASED THIRD WORLD MILITARY SECURITY THROUGH A REDUCTION OF CONVENTIONAL ARMAMENTS DO NOT APPEAR ENCOURAGING.

THIS SECTION DISCUSSES THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH SIPRI HAS IN COMING UP WITH INFORMATION AND STATISTICS ON THE WORLD ARMS TRADE. INFORMATION ON ARMS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS ARE FOUND TO ORIGINATE FROM THE SUPPLYING FIRMS, THE SUPPLYING GOVERNMENTS, THE RECEIVING GOVERNMENTS, AND VARIOUS INTELLIGENCE NETWORKS. THE MAIN THEME OF THIS EFFORT STILL MUST BE THE INADEQUACY OF ANY STATISTICAL PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD'S MILITARY SECTOR.

THIS SECTION PROVIDES A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF ARMS EXPORTS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, NOTING THAT WHEREAS MOST US ARMS GO TO INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, SOVIET ARMS GO MOSTLY TO THE THIRD WORLD. STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE VOLUME GROWTH OF THIRD WORLD ARMS IMPORTS HAS STAGNATED, THAT THE MIDDLE EAST IMPORTS THE MOST ARMS, AND THAT MILITARY IMPORT IS STILL TOO HIGH COMPARED TO THE OTHER NEEDS OF POOR COUNTRY IMPORTERS.