![India Remains Top Arms Importer Despite Domestic Production Push: SIPRI Report India Remains Top Arms Importer Despite Domestic Production Push: SIPRI Report](https://i0.wp.com/i.postimg.cc/NfKdTKQC/Screenshot-2024-03-11-161658.png)
Despite India's ambitious "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliance) initiative aimed at boosting domestic defense manufacturing, the country remains the world's largest arms importer. This is according to the latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
While India has made reducing reliance on foreign-made weapons a priority, its arms imports actually increased by 4.7% between the 2014-2018 and 2019-2023 periods. Analysts attribute this rise to persistent border tensions with both China and Pakistan.
Shifting Supplier Base
A significant development highlighted in the SIPRI report is the diversification of India's arms suppliers. For the first time since the 1960s, Russia accounted for less than half (36%) of India's arms imports.This indicates a conscious effort by India to reduce its historical dependence on Russia, potentially influenced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on the Russian arms industry.
The China Factor
Regional security concerns remain a key driver of India's arms procurement. China continues to be a significant factor, supplying a massive 82% of neighboring Pakistan's weapons imports while maintaining close military ties.The volatile geopolitical environment in the Indian subcontinent is likely to sustain India's need for advanced weaponry.