But unlike your local supermarket, this global marketplace is shrouded in secrecy that could make a spy novel seem bland. Transparency is as scarce as a needle in a haystack. 

Why all the hush-hush? Why do countries insist on keeping these transactions so secretive?

The Sellers: Power Brokers of the World

A handful of powerful nations are at the top of the arms-selling league. 

The United States, Russia, and China are the heavy hitters, followed closely by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Together, they’re responsible for over 80% of all weapons sold globally.

You might ask, why do these countries produce and sell so many weapons? Well, the answer concerns three main reasons: economics, geopolitics, and self-defense. 

Weapons production and sales contribute significantly to these countries’ economies. They also use arms sales as a geopolitical tool to strengthen alliances and influence other countries. 

Finally, having a well-established arms industry allows them to maintain a high level of self-defense.

The Buyers: Shopping for Security

On the other side of an international arms trade, you’ll find a host of nations looking to beef up their military capabilities. The reasons vary. 

Some countries, especially those in volatile regions, buy arms to defend themselves against potential threats. Others believe them to assert dominance within their territory, deter rivals, or wage wars.

The biggest arms buyers in the world currently are India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Australia. Interestingly, many biggest buyers don’t have significant arms industries. 

This discrepancy makes the international arms trade so vital for these nations.

The Tools of the International Arms Trade: From Bullets to Battleships

So, what weapons are on the table in an international arms deal? The answer is a lot. 

The trade includes everything from small arms and light weapons (SALW) like guns and grenades to major weapons systems like tanks, aircraft, warships, missiles, and even weaponized drones. 

Each category has a set of regulations and rules that govern how they can be sold and bought on the global market.

The Cloak of Secrecy and the Call for Transparency

Now that we’ve covered the who, why, and what of the international arms trade, let’s delve into why this industry is so shrouded in secrecy. 

As you can imagine, these transactions are incredibly sensitive. Countries are reluctant to disclose details of their defense purchases for national security reasons. 

An international arms trade often involves sensitive technologies that countries want to avoid falling into the wrong hands.

However, this secrecy can have negative consequences. It can lead to corruption, enable human rights abuses, and exacerbate conflicts. Many advocacy groups and international organizations push for more transparency in  global arms dealing. 

Greater openness could help to prevent misuse and bring accountability to this billion-dollar industry.

The Regulations: Navigating the Rulebook of the International Arms Trade

The international arms trade is a tightly regulated industry – at least on paper. A host of international laws, agreements, and treaties attempt to control who can sell what, to whom, and under what circumstances.

You may have heard of the ‘Arms Trade Treaty’ (ATT). Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2013, the ATT aims to regulate the international trade of conventional weapons, from small arms to tanks and warships. 

The ATT ensures that countries do not sell arms to those nations where these weapons are the tool to commit war crimes, human rights abuses, or violations of humanitarian law.

However, like any rulebook, the ATT only works if everyone agrees to play by the rules. Some major arms producers, like the US and Russia, haven’t ratified the treaty, which significantly undermines its effectiveness.

The Call For Transparency

Remember that secrecy we talked about earlier? It makes it even harder to ensure that nations follow these regulations. 

Despite the existence of these rules and regulations, illicit arms deals slip through the cracks, ending up in conflict zones or in the hands of those who abuse human rights.

It brings us full circle back to the need for greater transparency. Only by shining a light on the international arms trade can we ensure that countries follow the rules, respect human rights, and that dealing arms isn’t contributing to conflict and instability.