Washington: Russia’s arms export to India fell by a whopping 42 per cent between 2014-18 and 2009-2013, according to a new report.
As a result, Russia accounted for 58 per cent of total Indian arms imports in 2014-2018, compared with 76 per cent in 2009-2013, according to the report ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018’ released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to reduce country’s dependence on foreign arms, India’s import of arms decreased by 24 per cent between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018, according to the figures released by the report.
This decline in India’s import is also partly due to delays in deliveries of arms produced under license from foreign suppliers, such as combat aircraft ordered from Russia in 2001 and submarines ordered from France in 2008.
Still, India was the world’s second largest importer of major arms in 2014-18 and accounted for 9.5 per cent of the global total.
Israel, the USA and France all increased their arms exports to India in 2014-18.
Pakistan’s arms imports decreased by 39 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18. The US has become increasingly reluctant to provide military aid or sell arms to Pakistan: US arms exports to Pakistan fell by 81 per cent between 2009-13 and 2014-18, it said.
Pakistan has instead turned to other suppliers. For example, in 2018 it ordered 4 frigates and 30 combat helicopters from Turkey, it added.
The decrease in India’s arms import is significant given that the volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014-18 was 7.8 per cent higher than in 2009-13 and 23 per cent higher than in 2004-2008.
The five largest exporters in 2014-18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. The five largest importers were Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and Algeria.
PTI
