Introduction: Arms Transfers as a Strategic Barometer
Arms transfers, the sale of military equipment between states, serve as a barometer of global power and insecurity. “The arms trade is central to the dynamics of violence, inequality, power, and global order.”[1] Recent data underscore this trend: for example, reported global exports of small arms and light weapons jumped from about US$5 billion in 2019 to US$9.2 billion in 2024,[2] signalling a broader demand. Studying arms transfers, including major conventional weapons and small arms, reveals shifting balances and tensions. This brief…