On the eve of the 1990 Gulf War, Iraq had amassed one of the largest military forces on earth. This achievement is particularly significant since Iraq had been involved in a protracted war with Iran from 1980 to 1988. In addition to its extensive conventional arsenal, Iraq had also acquired chemical and biological weapons. While it did not use these weapons during the Gulf War, the threat of their use had a profound impact on the international community. As a condition of the cease-fire and armistice that ended the Gulf War, Iraq agreed to the destruction of its nuclear weapons program and the elimination of its chemical and biological weapons. The Gulf War provides an important lesson to the international community of the dangers posed by illegal and legal arms trade.
The illegal arms trade is significant. Despite extensive controls on the distribution and acquisition of certain advanced technologies, such as missile and nuclear technology, recent events indicate the limitations of these efforts. Several countries including Egypt, Iran, Libya and North Korea continue to seek access to this restricted technology. Following the Gulf War, it was determined that Iraq had illegally acquired technology and material to produce its weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, some of this technology and material had been purchased from Western countries such as the United States, Great Britain and France. In addition, the fall of the Soviet Union has raised significant questions regarding the safety of its nuclear arsenal, which contained over 26,000 nuclear warheads. Despite extensive efforts by Russia and the United States, the security of these warheads and other nuclear material has been compromised. Recently, government authorities throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have begun to seize large quantities of weapons grade uranium at their borders.
In some respects, however, it is the legal arms trade that poses the greatest threat. The manufacture and export of armored vehicles, warships, aircraft and other conventional weapons is extremely lucrative for defense industries. In 1988 alone, arms transfers accounted for over $50 billion in sales worldwide. US sales accounted for approximately $14 billion worth of military equipment. By 1993, US corporations exported $32 billion worth of military equipment. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States has now become the world's largest arms exporter. Germany, Britain and France are also significant arms exporters.
The principal importers of military equipment are less-developed countries and countries involved in conflicts with neighboring states. In 1988, the top importers of major conventional armaments included Greece, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Iran and South Korea. In 1995, the majority of arms sales were made to countries in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia was the world's largest arms buyer, followed by Iran, Egypt, Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to conventional arms transfers, several countries have participated in more deadly exchanges. For example, Russia has sold advanced ballistic missile technology to several countries. Similarly, China recently sold nuclear technology to Iran. Both Iraq and North Korea were able to acquire nuclear technology and material for their nuclear weapons programs. While the proliferation of both missile and nuclear technology is regulated by international agreements, countries continuously attempt to circumvent these restrictions.
The secondary effects of the arms trade are equally pronounced. Worldwide military spending accounts for approximately $600 billion a year. By some accounts, the United States spends approximately $250 billion a year on defense. By contrast, the United States spends about half as much on health care. In many less-developed countries, arms expenditures make up a significant proportion of total national expenditures. As a result, fewer resources are available for vital social programs. For example, Syria spends 55 times more for the military than for public health. In Pakistan, the ratio is 42:1. In addition, many countries have become severely indebted in their efforts to increase their military arsenals.
To minimize the arms trade, the United Nations pursues a variety of arms control and disarmament programs. These programs address both weapons of mass destruction and conventional armaments. One of the most significant arms control agreements sponsored by the United Nations is the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The treaty seeks to prevent the acquisition and deployment of nuclear weapons by states that do not currently possess them. It establishes strict procedures for the acquisition of nuclear technology and authorizes the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that all members are complying with the treaty. In addition, the United Nations participated in the negotiation and adoption of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention and the recently concluded 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention. These agreements prohibit the acquisition, development, possession or use of biological and chemical weapons.
The United Nations has also sought to reduce the trade in conventional armaments. In 1991, the UN established the Registry of Conventional Arms to record information by member states on arms exports and imports. The goal of the annual registry is to increase the transparency of the arms trade. By increasing the flow of information between member states, it reduces uncertainty and improves stability. The UN Registry also increases awareness of the consequences of the arms trade.
While UN sanctions against Iraq will prevent it from acquiring an extensive military force in the near future, the lessons of the Gulf War must be applied to other countries. Despite the lucrative nature of the arms trade, the international community must continue in its efforts to minimize the acquisition of arms.
