Arms Sales Surge Globally
August 22, 2000 - 0:0
NEW YORK International arms sales surged last year to nearly 30.3 billion dollars, the highest level since 1996, and the United States solidified its position as the world's biggest arms dealer, according to the New York Times Monday.
The Times cited a report by congressional research service, an arm of the library of Congress, which showed that American contractors sold nearly 11.8 billion dollars in weapons in 1999 more than a third of the world's total and more than all European countries combined.
American arms sales, like those worldwide, were still far below the peaks reached in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, but the United States has steadily increased its sales in the last few years, from 7.7 billion dollars in 1997 and 10.3 billion dollars in 1998, the report found. (DPA)
The Times cited a report by congressional research service, an arm of the library of Congress, which showed that American contractors sold nearly 11.8 billion dollars in weapons in 1999 more than a third of the world's total and more than all European countries combined.
American arms sales, like those worldwide, were still far below the peaks reached in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, but the United States has steadily increased its sales in the last few years, from 7.7 billion dollars in 1997 and 10.3 billion dollars in 1998, the report found. (DPA)