Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1997-2004 (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Aug. 29, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL33051 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Richard F. Grimmett, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report is prepared annually to provide unclassified quantitative data on conventional arms
transfers to developing nations by the United States and foreign countries for the preceding eight
calendar years. Some general data are provided on worldwide conventional arms transfers, but the
principal focus is the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing
world.
Developing nations continue to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales activity by weapons
suppliers. During the years 1997-2004, the value of arms transfer agreements with developing
nations comprised 62.7% of all such agreements worldwide. More recently, arms transfer
agreements with developing nations constituted 57.3% of all such agreements globally from
2001-2004, and 58.9% of these agreements in 2004.
The value of all arms transfer agreements with developing nations in 2004 was nearly
$21.8
billion. This was a substantial increase over 2003, and the highest total, in real terms, since 2000.
In 2004, the value of all arms deliveries to developing nations was nearly $22.5 billion, the
highest
total in these deliveries values since 2000 (in constant 2004 dollars).
Recently, from 2001-2004, the United States and Russia have dominated the arms market in
the developing world, with the United States ranking first and Russia second each of the last four
years in the value of arms transfer agreements . From 2001-2004, the United States made
$29.8
billion in arms transfer agreements with developing nations, in constant 2004 dollars, 39.9%
of all
such agreements. Russia, the second leading supplier during this period, made $21.7 billion in arms
transfer agreements, or 29.1%.
In 2004, the United States ranked first in arms transfer agreements with developing
nations with
nearly $6.9 billion or 31.6% of these agreements. Russia was second with $5.9 billion or 27.1% of
such agreements. In 2004, the United States ranked first in the value of arms deliveries to
developing
nations at nearly $9.6 billion, or 42.6% of all such deliveries. Russia ranked second at $4.5 billion
or 20% of such deliveries. France ranked third at $4.2 billion or 18.7% of such deliveries.
During the 2001-2004 period, China ranked first among developing nations purchasers in the
value of arms transfer agreements , concluding $10.4 billion in such agreements. India ranked
second
at $7.9 billion. Egypt ranked third at $6.5 billion. In 2004, India ranked first in the value of arms
transfer agreements among all developing nations weapons purchasers, concluding $5.7
billion in
such agreements. Saudi Arabia ranked second with $2.9 billion in such agreements. China ranked
third with $2.2 billion.
