The Serious Business of War

In a fast-expanding global arms market, India has emerged as the largest importer even as it develops an indigenous defence sector. Meanwhile, China has emerged as the biggest challenger to American hegemony. Shikha Shalini explains

- Shikha Shalini

A marked surge in global arms transfers between 2011 and 2024, compared to the 2000-10 period, has been highlighted in a new analysis of international arms import-export data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), a leading authority on global security.

According to Sipri's data, the United States (US) continues to dominate the global arms market, posting $316.75 billion in arms revenue in 2023—more than three times the total of second-ranked China. In a notable shift, China, despite being a major military force, reduced its arms imports by 47 per cent, signalling growing domestic capabilities and an increasingly self-reliant defence sector.

Retired Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare attributes the rise in global arms transfers since 2000 to China's manufacturing boom, which has provided an alternative to countries previously reliant on the US, boosting Chinese arms sales in Southeast Asia and reducing the market share of European producers. "China targets nations with weapons appetite, providing 'quid pro quo deals' that differ from the American model," he says.

Retired Lt Gen V K Chaturvedi describes the contest between the US and China as one of intense rivalry, underpinned by an "ideological clash" between American visions of a unipolar world and Chinese push for multipolarity. He maintains that the US retains a lead in advanced defence sectors, including avionics, surveillance, and space technology, but warns that China "does not mind adopting unethical means also in arms deals and to deliberately destabilise regions for strategic gain."

India leads in imports, China looks inwards The Asia and Oceania region remains pivotal in the global arms trade. India leads as the world's top arms importer, doubling its imports (up 104 per cent) and accounting for 27 per cent of the region's total. Australia also saw a sharp 90 per cent rise.