斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Arms-transfers-to-the-Middle-East

报告摘要

ARMS TRANSFERS TO THE MIDDLE EAST

I. Introduction

The United Nations member states are currently discussing the feasibility of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to improve controls on international arms transfers. This document is a SIPRI Background Paper aimed at informing regional discussions on the Middle East. It outlines the trends in arms imports, exports, and the associated issues such as the use of arms in conflicts, small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation, and transparency concerns.

II. Arms Transfers to and from the Middle East

Imports

The Middle East has high military expenditure and arms imports relative to its GDP.
The UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) was created in part due to concerns over arms supplies to Iraq in the 1980s.
Military spending increased by 34% from 1999–2008, with most countries in the region seeing a rise.
Israel is the only major arms exporter in the region, and the U.S. is the largest supplier of major conventional arms, accounting for 53% of deliveries in 2004–2008.
UAE was the largest recipient of major conventional arms in the region, followed by Israel and Egypt.
Arms imports have fueled conflicts, including those between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel and Hamas, and in Iraq, Somalia, and Turkey.

Suppliers

U.S. was the largest supplier (53% of deliveries), followed by France (16%), Germany (8%), and Russia (7%).
These four countries accounted for 84% of all arms deliveries to the Middle East.
U.S. supplies nearly all of Israel’s major conventional weapons.
France and Germany primarily supply UAE and Turkey, respectively.
Russia supplies Iran (59%), Iraq (16%), Egypt (15%), and Syria (10%).

Exports

Israel is the only significant exporter in the region, with UAE and Turkey also developing their defense industries.
Israel exported weapons to India, Turkey, the U.S., and Mexico.
UAE and Jordan are developing their own defense industries, primarily in armored vehicles and naval vessels.
Exports of locally produced equipment are limited, but both countries have exported second-hand arms.

III. Issues Regarding Arms Transfers

Use of Imported Arms in Conflicts

Arms from foreign suppliers have been used in recent conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hezbollah war (2006) and the Gaza conflict (2008–2009).
Israel has been accused of violating international humanitarian law, including the use of U.S.-supplied weapons.
Hamas and Hezbollah use a mix of locally produced, Russian, Iranian, and possibly Chinese weapons.
Iraq’s disarmed military allowed arms to flow to various armed groups.
U.S. supplied arms to the new Iraqi Army, but monitoring was inadequate, leading to fears of insurgent access.
Yemen has a high rate of private gun ownership, contributing to illicit arms flows to Somalia despite a UN embargo.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

SALW are widely available in the region, with significant military, police, and civilian ownership.
These weapons are often diverted to conflicts within and outside the region.
Transparency on SALW flows is limited, and data is scarce.

Transparency

Transparency in arms transfers is poor in the Middle East.
Only Israel, Jordan, and Turkey regularly submit reports to UNROCA.
Turkey is the only country to provide additional data on SALW, holdings, and production.
Most Arab states boycott UNROCA, arguing it should include information on weapons of mass destruction and arms holdings.
No Middle Eastern state publishes an annual report on conventional arms exports.

IV. Conclusions

The Middle East has high military expenditure and arms imports relative to its economic and demographic size.
Arms trade in the region has been on an upward trend in recent years, driven by economic growth, high oil prices, and regional tensions.
U.S. dominance in the arms market has increased, with France, Germany, and Russia as other major suppliers.
Military modernization has been a key trend, with Israel leading in export capabilities.
Arms transfers, both legal and illicit, contribute to conflict and violation of international humanitarian law.
Transparency and participation in arms monitoring mechanisms remain limited.
Only four Middle Eastern states voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution on an ATT in 2008, with the rest abstaining.

Key Points

U.S. is the largest arms supplier to the Middle East, followed by France, Germany, and Russia.
UAE, Israel, and Egypt are the largest recipients of major conventional arms.
Israel is the only significant arms exporter in the region.
Arms imports have fueled conflicts and human rights violations.
SALW are widely available and diverted to various conflicts.
Transparency is limited, with only a few states participating in UNROCA.
Arms trade treaty (ATT) discussions are ongoing, but support is limited in the region.