India top weapons buyer among developing nations in 2010: US
30 Sep 2011
Washington: India was the top weapons buyer among the developing countries in 2010, acquiring armaments worth $5.8 billion, according to a US Congressional report. Way behind at the second place was Taiwan with $2.7 billion of arms purchases followed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Inspite of Russia's continued domination of the Indian arms market the Congressional report admitted that New Delhi had begun to diversify its weapons supply base, acquiring high technology systems from Israel, France as well as the United States.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report said that the US ranked first in arms transfer agreements with developing countries followed closely by Russia which sold arms worth $7.8 billion.
The value of all arms transfer agreements worldwide in 2010 was $40.4 billion.
"This was a substantial decrease in arms agreements values over 2009 of 38.1 per cent, and the lowest worldwide arms agreements total since 2003," the CRS said.
CRS said sales of advanced weaponry in South Asia by Russia have been a matter of ongoing concern to the United States because of long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India.
