SIPRI Report: “Algeria largest arms importer in Africa”

The United States has taken a firm lead as the major arms exporter globally, according to new data on international arms transfers published Monday by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Overall, the volume of international transfers of major conventional weapons grew by 16 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14.

The volume of US exports of major weapons rose by 23 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14. The USA’s share of the volume of international arms exports was 31 per cent in 2010–14, compared with 27 per cent for Russia.

Russian exports of major weapons increased by 37 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14.

During the same period, Chinese exports of major arms increased by 143 per cent, making it the third largest supplier in 2010–14, however still significantly behind the USA and Russia.

Other notable developments:

European arms imports decreased by 36 per cent between 2005–2009 to 2010–2014. Developments in Ukraine and Russia may counter this trend after 2014 with several states bordering Russia increasing their arms imports.
Germany’s arms exports decreased by 43 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14. However, it received several large arms orders in 2014 from Middle Eastern states.

Arms imports by Azerbaijan increased by 249 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14.

African arms imports with on prime focus Algeria increased by 45 per cent between 2005–2009 to 2010–2014.

Between 2005–2009 and 2010–2014, Algeria was classified as the largest arms importer in the entire African continent and holds the 11^th spot worldwide, followed by Morocco, whose arms imports increased eleven fold and in third place by Sudan.

The report revealed that the most important orders for weapons issued by Algeria were represented by the purchase of three frigates from China, 926 armored vehicles to transport troops, 42 assault helicopters and two modern submarines as part of a frantic arms race with neighbouring Morocco.

Cameroon and Nigeria received arms from several states in order to fulfill their urgent demand for weapons to fight the Boko Haram extremist group.

To combat the ISIS terror group, Iraq received arms from countries as diverse as Iran, Russia and the USA in 2014.

Deliveries and orders for ballistic missile defense systems increased significantly in 2010–2014, notably in the GCC and North East Asia.

Arms Imports by Gulf Cooperation Council states on the rise

Arms imports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states increased by 71 per cent from 2005–2009 to 2010–14, accounting for 54 per cent of imports to the Middle East in the latter period. Saudi Arabia rose to become the second largest importer of major weapons worldwide in 2010–2014, increasing the volume of its arms imports four times compared to 2005–2009.

Asian arms imports continue to increase

Of the top 10 largest importers of major weapons during the 5-year period 2010–14, 5 are in Asia: India (15 per cent of global arms imports), China (5 per cent), Pakistan (4 per cent), South Korea (3 per cent) and Singapore (3 per cent). 

These five countries accounted for 30 per cent of the total volume of arms imports worldwide. China’s arms imports actually decreased by 42 per cent between 2005–2009 and 2010–2014.