Global arms sales in 2003 fell by 12 percent to $25.6 billion versus $29.14 billion in 2002, according to a U.S. government report.
The United States led worldwide weapons sales last year with sales amounting to $14.5 billion, or 56.7 percent of all arms agreements, up from $13.6 billion in 2002, the report said.
The report, "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations," is issued annually by the Congressional Research Service, which is part of the U.S. Library of Congress.
The report indicated that Middle East countries were making fewer weapons purchases.
However, the United Arab Emirates was the leading developing world arms buyer from 1996-2003, with purchases hitting $15.7 billion. Egypt was third with $13.6 billion, Israel was fifth with $9.9 billion followed by Saudi Arabia with $9.4 billion, the report said.
Conventional arms categories in the report include: tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers and armored cars, major and minor naval surface ships, submarines, guided missile patrol boats, supersonic combat aircraft, subsonic combat aircraft, other types of conventional aircraft, helicopters, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, and anti-ship missiles. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
