India Is World's Biggest Arms Importer: Swedish Think Tank

In 2009-13, however, the U.S. still accounted for only 7 percent of India’s purchases according to SIPRI.

India’s traditional rival Pakistan increased its weapons acquisitions by 119 percent, growing from 2 percent of the global total to 5 percent during that period.

The five largest arms suppliers worldwide between 2009 and 2013 were the United States (29 percent of global exports), Russia (27 percent), Germany (7 percent), China (6 percent) and France (5 percent).

They collectively accounted for 74 percent of total arms exports, SIPRI said.

The world’s top five arms importers were now India, China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

“Chinese, Russian and U.S. arms supplies to South Asia are driven by both economic and political considerations,” said Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

“In particular, China and the USA appear to be using arms deliveries to Asia to strengthen their influence in the region,” Wezeman said.

Arms exports to Africa between 2004-08 and 2009-13 jumped 53 per cent. The three largest importers in the region were Algeria, Morocco and Sudan.

Imports by European nations decreased by 25 percent between 2004-2008 and 2009-13.

Britain was the largest importer of major weapons in Europe (receiving 12 percent of deliveries), followed by Azerbaijan (12 percent) and Greece (11 percent).

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