Pakistan
According to a 2023 report from FAIR, Pakistan is the world’s eighth-largest arms importer.
- In 2018–2022, Pakistan’s arms imports increased by 14% and accounted for 3.7% of the world’s total arms imports. China is the main supplier of arms to Pakistan.
- Pakistan’s arms imports include several weaponry, including fighter jets, naval vessels, armored vehicles, and advanced missile systems, purchased from various international suppliers.
- The country’s strategic location in South Asia, bordering Afghanistan, Iran, India, and China, contributes to its security concerns, requiring the necessity for a well-armed military.
- Also, Pakistan’s participation in counterterrorism operations, especially in its sensitive northwest regions and along the Afghan border, emphasizes the importance of keeping strong military forces.
Top 10 Largest Arms Importers in the World
In the last five years, India accounted for the largest share of global arms imports (11%), followed by Saudi Arabia (9.6%), Qatar (6.4%), Australia (4.7%), and China (4.7%), according to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It is a think tank that monitors imports of weapons over five years.
In this article, we will look into the list of the top 10 arms importer countries in the world along with the percentage of share of global arms imports and the major suppliers.