India's arms imports dipped by 33 per cent in a decade due to complex procurement process and reduce its dependency on other countries, according to data published by Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI on Monday.As per the report, Russia was the most affected supplier.The United States arms export to India also witnessed a decline of 46 per cent."The drop in Indian arms imports seems to have been mainly due to its complex procurement processes, combined with an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms. India is planning large-scale arms imports in the coming years from several suppliers," the report said.
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The report noted that India's neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to buy the bulk of Chinese-manufactured weapons."Exports by China, the world's fifth-largest arms exporter in 2016-20, decreased by 7.8 per cent between 2011-15 and 2016-20. Chinese arms exports accounted for 5.2 per cent of total arms exports in 2016-20. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria were the largest recipients of Chinese arms," it said.
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"Chinese arms exports accounted for 5.2 per cent of total arms exports in 2016–20. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria were the largest recipients of Chinese arms," the report added.Among the major arms suppliers, the US, France and Germany saw spike in their export inventory while countries like Russia and China witnessed drop in their supply.As per the report, the US remains the largest arms exporter, increasing its global share of arms exports from 32 to 37 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20.
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Russia stands at second position while France and Germany fared at third and fourth places, respectively.In 2016–20, France increased its exports of major arms by 44 per cent and accounted for 8.2 per cent of global arms exports in 2016–20. India, Egypt and Qatar together received 59 per cent of French arms exports.Germany also raised its exports of arms by 21 per cent between 2011–15 and 2016–20 and accounted for 5.5 per cent of the global total.
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Russia and China both saw their arms exports falling."Arms exports by Russia, which accounted for 20 per cent of all exports of major arms in 2016–20, dropped by 22 per cent (to roughly the same level as in 2006–10). The bulk—around 90 per cent—of this decrease was attributable to a 53 per cent fall in its arms exports to India," it added."Russia substantially increased its arms transfers to China, Algeria and Egypt between 2011–15 and 2016–20, but this did not offset the large drop in its arms exports to India," said Alexandra Kuimova, Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.
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