If arms imports are a measure of a region’s dominance, then the balance of power has definitely shifted in Asia’s favor. It shouldn’t be a surprise that India, South Korea, Pakistan and China are the world’s top arms importers. But right below these Asian military powerhouses comes… Singapore.
According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released Monday, the city-state is the fifth-largest importer of arms for the 2007 – 2011 period, accounting for 4% of global arms purchases – surprising for a country with a population of just 5.1 million residents. The U.S. benefited most from the city-state’s military acquisitions, with its defense contractors involved in 43% of Singapore’s arms purchases. Full story
