US Gun and Ammo Exports: A Global Perspective
2010 Exports
In 2010, the United States exported $607 million worth of small and light arms to buyers worldwide. Israel, Afghanistan, Thailand, Colombia, and Canada were among the top recipients.
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Small arms are weapons that can be easily operated by a single person, such as pistols, light machine guns, and assault rifles. Light weapons are those that can be operated by a small crew, such as grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile launchers.
Igarape Institute and Google Ideas INFO Partnership
Google partnered with the Igarape Institute, a Brazilian think tank, to create an interactive infographic that tracks the flow of small arms and ammunition around the world. The infographic allows users to see where weapons are bought and sold, and how these exchanges have changed over time.
Data Sources
The data used in the infographic comes from border control and customs records, as well as the Peace Research Institute Oslo’s small arms transfer database. However, the designers caution that the data is incomplete, especially for countries such as China, North Korea, and Iran.
Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers
The Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers maintains a searchable database that provides a more detailed breakdown of US gun and ammo exports. However, this database is less user-friendly than the Google Ideas INFO infographic.
US Imports
In 2010, the US imported just under a billion dollars worth of weapons and ammo. Italy, Brazil, Austria, and Russia were the leading exporters.
Global Trends
The infographic reveals that the US is a major exporter of small arms and light weapons. However, other countries, such as China and Russia, are also significant players in the global arms trade.
Challenges in Tracking Small Arms
Tracking the flow of small arms is challenging due to the lack of comprehensive data. Many countries do not report their arms exports and imports accurately, and illicit trafficking is a major problem.
Policy Implications
The global trade in small arms has a significant impact on international security and human rights. The US and other countries need to work together to develop policies that reduce the illicit trade in small arms and prevent their use in armed conflicts and human rights abuses.
Long-Tail Keywords
- US exports of small arms and light weapons to Israel in 2010
- Small arms exports from the US to Afghanistan in 2010
- US imports of weapons and ammo from Italy in 2010
- Small arms and light weapons definition
- Igarape Institute and Google Ideas INFO partnership on small arms tracking
- Peace Research Institute Oslo small arms transfer database
- Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers searchable database
- Challenges in tracking the global trade in small arms
- Policy implications of the global trade in small arms
