Global arms sales up in 2000, Russia moves to second place

By David Mulholland

Global arms sales to the developing world, which represent about two-thirds of global arms deals, increased 7.7% last year reaching $25.4 billion, up from $23.6 billion the year before, with the USA, Russia and France leading the pack, according to a US government report.

The report, Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1993-2000, is a product of the Congressional Research Office, a non-partisan research group that works for the US Congress.

However, while sales have climbed in 2000, in the period 1997-2000 new arms sales fell 21.1% to $125.1 billion from $142.4 billion during the 1993-1996 period, the report said. Additionally, developing nations are representing a larger share of the total international arms trade, reaching 70.2% during the 1997-2000 period, up from 65.8% in the 1993-1996 period.

Among other things, the report shows that while Russia's arms deliveries have been lagging, sales are picking up with major deals with China and India.

In 2000, Russia signed $7.7 billion worth of deals, 20.9% of all agreements, globally putting the country behind only the USA in new deals inked.

The USA leads 2000 with almost $18.6 billion, or slightly over 50% of all sales worldwide, up from $12.9 billion in 1999. The spike in sales is largely because of an order by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 80 F-16C/D block 60 aircraft.

During the 1997-2000 period, the UAE became the number one-recipient of weapons on the strength of the F-16 order. Following the UAE was India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China, in that order. In the 1993-96 period the order was Saudi Arabia, China, Kuwait, UAE and Egypt. SALES Sales to developing nations 1997-2000 (in $ millions)

1. USA 30,486
2. Russia 16,200
3. France 9,200
4. China 5,000
5. Germany 4,600
6. UK 2,600
7. Sweden 2,300
8. Israel 1,500
9. Belgium 1,000
10. Belarus 1,000

Sales to developing nations 1993-96 (in $ millions)

1. USA 30,965
2. France 15,500
3. Russia 14,300
4. UK 6,300
5. China 2,200
6. Italy 1,600
7. Ukraine 1,400
8. Germany 1,200
9. Israel 1,100
10. The Netherlands 1,100

ARMS DELIVERIES

Arms deliveries to developing nations 1997-2000 (in $ millions)

1. USA 42,452
2. UK 18,000
3. France 15,500
4. Russia 8,900
5. Sweden 2,400
6. China 2,300
7. Germany 1,600
8. Ukraine 1,500
9. Belarus 1,100
10. Italy 1,000

Arms deliveries to developing nations 1993-1997 (in $ millions)

1. USA 35,958
2. UK 19,200
3. Russia 8,400
4. France 6,400
5. Germany 3,300
6. China 3,000
7. Sweden 2,300
8. Israel 1,900
9. Canada 1,000
10. South Africa 900