Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1991-1998 (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Aug. 4, 1999 |
| Report Number |
TRANSFERS91-98 |
| 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 1991-1998, the value of arms transfer agreements with developing nations comprised 69.4% of all such agreements worldwide. More recently, arms transfer agreements have declined generally, but those with developing nations still constituted 66.4% of all such agreements globally from 1995-1998. The value of all arms transfer agreements with developing nations in 1998 was $13.2 billion. This was the lowest total, in real terms, since 1991. In 1998, the value of all arms deliveries to developing nations was $23.2 billion, a notable decrease in deliveries values from the previous year (in constant 1998 dollars). Recently, from 1995-1998, the United States, Russia, and France have dominated the arms market in the developing world, with the United States and Russia making nearly the same level of arms transfer agreements. From 1995-1998, the United States made $15.6 billion in arms transfer agreements with developing nations, 23.4% of all such agreements. Russia, the second leading supplier during this period, made nearly $15 billion in arms transfer agreements or 22.5%. France, the third leading supplier, made $11.1 billion or 16.7% of all such agreements with developing nations during these years. In 1998, the United States ranked first in arms transfer agreements with developing nations at roughly $4.6 billion, holding 34.7% of such agreements; France was second with $2.4 billion or 18.2% of such agreements. Germany ranked third with $2 billion or 15.2% of such agreements. The total value of U.S. arms transfer agreements with developing nations in 1998 was a notable increase, in real terms, from 1997. In 1998, the United States ranked first in the value of arms deliveries to developing nations at $7.8 billion, or 33.6% of all such deliveries. France ranked second at $6.2 billion or 26.7% of such deliveries. During the 1995-1998 period, Saudi Arabia ranked first among developing nations in the value of arms transfer agreements, concluding $7.9 billion in such agreements. The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) ranked second at $7.4 billion. China ranked third with $6.9 billion. Among developing nations weapons purchasers, Saudi Arabia ranked first in the value of arms transfer agreements in 1998, concluding $2.7 billion in such agreements. The United Arab Emirates ranked second at $2.5 billion. Malaysia ranked third with $2.1 billion.
