U.S. Remains Leader in Global Arms Sales, Report Says

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The New York Times
U.S. Remains Leader in Global Arms Sales, Report Says
By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 — The United States maintained its dominance in the international arms market last year, especially in sales to developing nations, according to a new Congressional report.

The United States was the leader in total worldwide sales in 2002, with about $13.3 billion, or 45.5 percent of global conventional weapons deals, a rise from $12.1 billion in 2001. Of that, $8.6 billion was to developing nations, or about 48.6 percent of conventional arms deals concluded with developing nations last year, according to the report.

Russia was second in sales to the developing world last year, with $5 billion, followed by France with $1 billion.

Total arms transfer agreements reached nearly $29.2 billion in 2002, a decrease from 2001 and the second year in a row that total arms sales dropped, according to the study.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/25/international/25ARMS.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=