BUSINESS SECTION
Spending on Arms Continues to Rise
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, AUG. 27, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
Armaments remain a big business worldwide. On June 7 the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute released its annual report on the
arms industry. According to the "SIPRI Yearbook 2005: Armaments, Disarmament
and International Security," world military expenditure in 2004 is estimated
to have been $1.03 trillion in current dollars.
The average annual rate of increase in military expenditure during 1995-2004
was 2.4% in real terms. This period, however, can be divided into two:
first, the post Cold War reduction in military spending which culminated
around 1998; second, an increasing trend since 1998, accelerating to an
annual average increase of around 6% in real terms over the three-year
period 2002-2004.
The report notes that as a global average, 2004 military expenditures
correspond to $162 per capita, or 2.6% of the world's gross domestic
product. But there is a wide variation between regions and countries.
Military expenditure by the United States makes up 47% of the world total.
U.S. spending increased rapidly during 2002-2004 as a result of the fight
against terrorism, and the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the SIPRI report, there was a growing debate about the
sustainability of the current U.S. military efforts, due to its impact on
the federal budget deficit and on economic growth.
5 big sellers
SIPRI data show that the value of the combined arms sales of the top 100
companies in the world, excluding China, rose 25% in 2003, to $236 billion
(in current dollars). Of these 100 companies, 38 are U.S.-based. One is
based in Canada. These 39 accounted for 63.2% of arms sales by the top 100,
while 42 European companies (including six based in Russia) accounted for
another 30.5% of sales.
The report noted that only limited information is available on commercial
arms sales worldwide. "This lack of data," it said, "makes it difficult to
establish a firm foundation for political and public discussion of issues
relating to arms production and arms sales."
Overall arms sales were concentrated in a small group of countries. France,
Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States made up 81% of all
deliveries in 2000-2004. In the realm of international trade in conventional
arms, Russia replaced the United States as the main supplier of major
weapons during 2000-2004. But SIPRI speculated that the Russia's lead could
diminish in the future, due to the old technology of its equipment.
The top buyers of arms in 2004 were China and India. China, though almost
completely dependent on Russia for its arms imports, is now developing its
own weapons. And India, another major Russian client, is looking at buying
from other suppliers, including the United States.
The European Union maintains an arms embargo against China, imposed after
the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, but is now considering lifting the
restrictions. In fact, the report said, the embargo has not stopped several
European countries from supplying military technology to China. The United
States strongly opposes lifting the embargo, in order to prevent a Chinese
military buildup, and it has threatened the EU with sanctions if the embargo
is lifted.
Nuclear stalling
Arms control is still fraught with problems. Regarding illegal nuclear,
biological and chemical weapon programs, the SIPRI report states: "For
almost a decade there has been little progress in multilateral arms control
in general, and some processes have suffered severe setbacks." Moreover,
states in a number of instances have violated their obligations under arms
control treaties, the report adds.
The SIPRI considers that developments in relation to nuclear arms during
2004 "raised serious questions about the future of the nuclear
non-proliferation regime and its principal legal foundation, the 1968 Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."
Evidence surfaced about a clandestine network supplying Pakistan's nuclear
program. The network reportedly involved supplying nuclear technology to
Iran and Libya and possibly to other states. As well, controversy continued
over the nature of Iran's nuclear program. And there was little progress
made in the international talks on the future of North Korea's nuclear
program.
In addition, the states that are party to the 1968 treaty are deadlocked
over the continuing implementation of its provisions and have failed to even
agree on an agenda for the 2005 Review Conference.
There was some positive news, with the decision by Libya to implement its
December 2003 pledge to abandon and dismantle its weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missile programs.
The situation was better regarding chemical weapons, as countries continued
to destroy their stocks. Out of 71,373 tons of declared chemical weapons,
10,698 tons had been verifiably destroyed as of last Jan. 31. The largest
remaining stock to be destroyed is in Russia, and further international
assistance for this destruction was agreed to in 2004.
By contrast, there was no progress in implementing the 1990 Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, as member countries of NATO and Russia
failed to resolve their differences.
Progress did continue to be made, however, in reducing the problems of mines
worldwide, although the report noted that the dilemma remains of choosing
between a total ban and adopting restraint in their application.
Peace missions
The number of peace missions continued at a high level in 2004. More than
64,000 military and civilian police personnel and 4,000 civilian personnel
were deployed in 21 U.N. missions. In addition, 35 peace missions, with a
total of 225,385 military and civilian personnel, were carried out by
regional organizations and U.N.-sanctioned coalitions of states.
In many cases the missions also involve aiding in the construction of a new
state. This task is difficult, the report noted. Afghanistan is an example
of the complexities involved, with continuing problems over the
demobilization of armed groups.
The report also noted the political difficulties in carrying out the peace
missions. Parliaments, both at the national level and at the international
level, have little possibility to influence or judge international peace
missions. "Their near-exclusion from the sensitive judgments surrounding
intervention seems incongruous in an age that generally emphasizes
democracy," the report stated.
The Vatican recently spoke out about weapons trade. On July 11 Archbishop
Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations,
addressed the 2nd Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation
of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade
in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
In his speech the archbishop recommended formulating long-term strategies
will need to combat the proliferation of small arms. "The Holy See is
convinced that investment in prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and
peace-building has the potential to save millions of lives," he stated.
Archbishop Migliore also recommended that the world community seriously
consider debating an arms trade treaty "based on the best principles of
international law on human rights and humanitarian law." A modest proposal
in a heavily armed world.
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