Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1988-1995 (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Aug. 15, 1996 |
| Report Number |
TRANSFERS88-95 |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Developing nations continue to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales activity by weapons suppliers. During the years 1988-1995, the value of arms transfer agreements with developing nations comprised, on average, 69.4% of all such agreements worldwide. More recently, arms transfer agreements have declined generally, but those with developing nations still constituted 63.4% of all such agreements globally from 1992-1995. The value of all arms transfer agreements with developing nations in 1995 was $15.4 billion. This was the lowest yearlytotal, in real terms, for any of the years during the 1988-1995 period.The value ofnew arms transfer agreements with developing nations has declined for five consecutive years since 1990 when arms agreements rose during the Persian Gulf war. By contrast, in 1995, the value of all arms deliveries to developing nations ($21.6 billion in constant 1995 dollars) was the first increase in deliveries values from the previous year during the 1988-1995 period. The United States has been the predominant arms supplier to developing nations during the period from 1992-1995. During these years, the United States accounted for 45.3% of the value of all arms transfer agreements with developing nations ($40.6 billion in constant 1995 dollars). France, the second leading supplier during this period, made $18.8 billion in arms transfer agreements (in constant 1995 dollars) or nearly 21% of all developing world agreements. The total value, in real terms, of US. arms transfer agreements with developing nations fell from $6.2 billion in 1994 to $3.8 billion in 1995. This is the lowest level of United States arms transfer agreements with developing nations during the last eight years, and the second consecutive year that the value of U.S. arms transfer agreements with such nations has been. lower than the previous year. The US. ranked second in such agreements in 1995. The US. ~, share of all such agreements was 24.6% in 1995, down from 28.8% in 1994. In 1995, Russia ranked first in arms transfer agreements with developing nations at $6 billion, holding 39% of such agreements; the United States was second with $3.8 billion and 24.6% of such agreements. France ranked third with $2.4 billion or 15.6% of such agreements. Among developing nations weapons purchasers, China ranked first in the value of arms transfer agreements in 1995, concluding $4.4 billion in such agreements. Saudi Arabia ranked second at $2.1 billion. India ranked third with $1 billion. In 1995, the United States ranked first in the value ofarms deliveries to developing nations at $9.5 billion, or 44% of all such deliveries. The United Kingdom ranked second at $4.5 billion or 20.8% of such deliveries.
