Top 10 Arms Importers in the World
Why does the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rank among the top 10 arms importers globally?
The UAE’s strategic location in the Middle East, combined with its commitment to regional peace and security, motivates major defense investments, resulting in large arms imports.
What factors contribute to Pakistan being one of the world’s largest arms importers?
Pakistan’s security concerns, including its historical rivalry with India and ongoing counterterrorism efforts, motivate its need for a strong defense capability, leading to major arms imports.
What makes South Korea’s position as a top arms importer globally?
South Korea’s geopolitical situation, marked by tensions with North Korea and the need for a strong defense posture, motivates substantial investments in military equipment, resulting in significant arms imports.
Why does Egypt feature prominently among the world’s top arms importers?
Egypt’s strategic importance in the Middle East, combined with its efforts to combat terrorism, secure its borders, and maintain regional influence, motivates substantial arms imports to strengthen its defense capabilities.
What motivates China to be one of the largest arms importers globally despite its status as a major arms exporter?
China’s ongoing military modernization efforts, combined with specific technological gaps and strategic considerations, prompt significant arms imports to supplement its indigenous defense capabilities.
Why has Australia emerged as one of the world’s top arms importers?
Australia’s strategic outlook in the Asia-Pacific region, evolving security challenges, and efforts to modernize its armed forces contribute to substantial arms imports to enhance its defense capabilities.
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.