The Crisis In The Middle East

Tensions grow in West Asia, a heavily militarised region

ExplainedIOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Map of West Asia

Mains level: Reason behind the west Asia is a heavily militarised region

Why in the news? 

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers 2023’, four of the top 10 largest importers of arms last year were from West Asia, with the U.S. being the main supplier

SIPRI Report: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2023

  • India’s Arms Imports: Increased by 4.7% compared to 2014-18.
  • European Arms Imports: Saw a staggering 94% increase between 2014-18 and 2019-23, likely influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
  • Russia-India Arms Trade: Russia remained India’s largest arms supplier, accounting for 36% of total imports.
  • Top Global Importers: India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar emerged as the top three importers globally.
  • Ukraine’s Arms Imports: Became the fourth largest arms importer during the specified period.
  • China-Pakistan Arms Trade: Pakistan, the fifth largest arms importer, obtained 82% of its arms from China.
  • France’s Arms Exports: Emerged as the world’s second-largest arms supplier, after the United States.
  • French Arms Exports to India: India was highlighted as the largest single recipient of French arms exports.

 

West Asia has largest expenditure in Defence as per GDP %

Reason behind the west Asia is heavily militarised region:

  • Regional Conflicts and Tensions: The region is characterized by ongoing conflicts and tensions, such as those in Yemen and Syria, leading countries to seek advanced weaponry to address security challenges
  • Oil Boom: The oil boom in West Asia has led to increased military spending as countries seek to protect their oil resources and maintain regional stability
  • Internal Factors: The presence of Western arms and personnel in some Persian Gulf countries has contributed to internal resurgences, leading states to invest in military capabilities for self-defense
  • Diversification of Arms Suppliers: West Asian states have adopted the principle of diversifying sources of arms supply, leading to a broader range of arms imports from various suppliers globally
  • Client-Supplier Relationship: The relationship between client states and arms suppliers is often favorable to the recipient, with the recipient receiving the arms they wish and the supplier bowing to their demands
  • Regional Disputes and Border Skirmishes: Border disputes, threats, and wars have made it imperative for West Asian states to resort to modern and efficient national defense systems like conflict between Iran and Israel

Conclusion: 

Encourage diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts and tensions through dialogue and negotiation, aiming to reduce the need for excessive military spending. Advocate for the establishment of regional arms control agreements to limit the proliferation of weapons and promote stability in the West Asia region.

Mains PYQ 

Q How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics?

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