Stockholm: Ukraine has surpassed India as the world’s largest arms importer in the 2020-24 period, with its weapons imports surging nearly 100 times compared to 2015-19 due to its ongoing war with Russia.
According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), released Monday, Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports, edging past India’s 8.3%. India’s arms purchases were primarily driven by security concerns with China and Pakistan.
Europe’s Growing Defense Purchases
The SIPRI report highlighted a 155% rise in European arms imports, fueled by fears of Russian expansionism following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The uncertainty surrounding U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration has further prompted European nations to bolster their defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s arms imports surged by 61% between 2015-19 and 2020-24. The country ranked fifth in global arms purchases, with 81% of its weapons coming from China, reinforcing the growing military cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad.
India’s Declining Reliance on Foreign Arms
Despite maintaining its position among the world’s top arms importers, India saw a 9.3% decline in foreign weapon purchases over the past five years. SIPRI attributed this to New Delhi’s increased efforts to develop and produce indigenous weapon systems.
However, the figures exclude deals where deliveries are yet to begin. Notable among these is India’s $3.3 billion contract with the U.S. government for 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, along with a $520 million agreement with General Atomics to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India.
Shifting Arms Suppliers: Russia’s Declining Share
Russia remains India’s primary arms supplier, accounting for 36% of its imports. However, Moscow’s share has declined significantly from 72% in 2010-14 and 55% in 2015-19, as India increasingly turns to Western suppliers such as the U.S., France, and Israel.
Russian arms exports, in general, have plummeted by 64% in the latest five-year period, with China also reducing its dependence on Russian weaponry in favor of domestic production.
Despite affirmations from both nations about strong defense ties, SIPRI observed that “India’s new and planned arms orders are now predominantly from Western suppliers.” France has become India’s second-largest arms provider, contributing 33% of imports, while Israel holds third place at 13%.
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Major Deals and India’s Defense Strategy
India is set to finalize two significant agreements with France—one for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets and another for the construction of three additional Scorpene-class submarines, collectively worth approximately €10.6 billion (around ₹1 lakh crore). India remains the largest arms buyer for France, Russia, and Israel.
As the world’s fourth-largest military spender—after the U.S., China, and Russia—India faces the challenge of enhancing its defense research and development, expanding its domestic arms industry, and streamlining procurement processes.
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While the Indian government has pushed for self-reliance in defense manufacturing, progress has been slow. The much-publicized “Make in India” strategic partnership model, introduced in 2017 to boost indigenous defense production through foreign collaborations, has yet to yield significant results.
