Is war a profitable market for arms manufacturers ?

Birendra Laishram *

Arms looted, recovered on February 09 2025 :: Pix - TSE

In stark contrast to the world of pharmaceuticals, where pharmacists engage in the sale of life-saving drugs that benefit both their own financial well-being and the health of their patients—a scenario that embodies a win-win situation—those involved in the production and sale of arms operate under very different motivations.

Medical representatives play a crucial role by educating doctors on the proper administration of medications for various ailments, underscoring the importance and necessity of these efforts in ensuring survival and improving health outcomes, war has increasingly become a good market for Arms Factories across the globe that all living beings, whether human or animal, instinctively engage in battles for territory, mates, and dominance.

In the animal kingdom, conflicts are often fought based on sheer strength, with the stronger individuals prevailing over their weaker counterparts, resulting in a clear and brutal hierarchy.

When it comes to humans, however, the approach to conflicts is far more complex and frequently dictated by profit- driven motives that permeate all facets of life. Within the context of warfare, these profit motives influence not only the production but also the aggressive marketing and sale of arms to various conflicting parties, often irrespective of the tragic human toll that these weapons impose on innocent lives. In this way, war has morphed into a commercial enterprise, especially for triggering developed Nations, where financial gain takes precedence over humanitarian concerns.

For poorer countries or militant groups that have aspirations to engage in armed conflict, securing financial resources for logistics and weaponry becomes a prerequisite. To achieve this end, triggering developed countries may resort to a variety of funding avenues, which can include narcotics trafficking, bank robberies, highway looting, and even soliciting donations from individuals who sympathize with their cause, as well as from supportive triggering Nations that are willing to back them financially. This financial aspect of warfare underscores the grim realities of modern conflict, where economics and violence are often intertwined.

Conflict emerges from direct opposition among social entities, whereas competition involves groups vying for limited resources without necessarily having direct confrontations. Both of these concepts highlight a fundamental opposition in contrast to cooperation, the latter of which seeks to achieve a mutual benefit for all parties involved.

It is essential to acknowledge that competition arises from resource scarcity, yet conflict does not always have to follow. Some scholars and theorists contend that war is an inevitable part of human existence, linking it to the principles of natural selection.

However, this perspective tends to emphasize the aspect of competition rather than the outright conflict itself. Social animals, including humans, frequently engage in struggles for dominance over resource access, and this can lead to severe repercussions for those who are unable to secure the needed resources for their survival.

Countries around the world compete for effective management of resources, as well as to engage in trade, which can yield prosperity for some Nations while leading to decline for others. Although the rivalry that arises from this competition can ignite conflicts and lead to territorial disputes, asserting that war between Nations is an unavoidable occurrence is not entirely accurate. The dynamics of international relations are more complex than a binary understanding of conflict and cooperation might suggest.

A recent surge in the number of NATO-grade arms entering India brings to light the multifaceted nature of global arms trafficking and its implications. Criminal networks and arms brokers facilitate the sale and clandestine transport of these powerful weapons, with allegations surfacing regarding the involvement of Pakistani intelligence agents, India’s North East insurgents in the smuggling of arms into India using drone technology.

The opaque and often convoluted nature of the global arms trade, together with the participation of a wide variety of actors, poses monumental security threats not only regionally but also internationally. A recent case in Manipur serves as a vivid illustration of this troubling trend, showcasing how sophisticated weapons, initially intended for NATO forces, can find their way into the hands of unintended and potentially dangerous recipients, thereby complicating the struggle for peace and accountability in the region.

The money earned through poppy plantations over the vast unprotected and unattended hills of Manipur for manufacture and smuggling narcotic drugs in tonnes; and funds raised with misrepresentation of false information of projects from all over the world were using in purchase of sophisticated weapons. Such weapons manufacturing countries give moral support to the customer countries and most importantly to the insurgents. All these activities are for getting money from sales of deadly weapons.

The United Nations Charter, specifically in Article 51, bestows upon member States the inherent right to engage in self-defense, which can be exercised either individually or collectively in response to threats.

This fundamental right necessitates the possession of military capabilities and a readiness to employ force when required. In practical terms, this often translates to the need for advanced weapon systems, which many countries find themselves needing to acquire from foreign suppliers due to the limitations on domestic production capabilities.

Only a select few Nations possess the industrial capacity to manufacture all major types of weaponry, including but not limited to armored vehicles and combat aircraft, across a wide range of operational domains such as air, land, sea, cyber, and space. As a result, the majority of countries are compelled to rely on a relatively small number of international manufacturers to meet their defense needs.

The decision regarding which foreign supplier to choose is influenced by a complex interplay of various factors, including existing political alliances, specific security requirements, economic considerations, and overall cost. It is important to note that not all of these factors carry the same weight in every situation.

In some instances, arms transactions may reflect a nuanced balance between the practical necessities of military readiness and the ideological beliefs held by the purchasing Nation. This dynamic underscores the intricate relationship between international defense procurement and the broader geopolitical landscape, where decisions are often shaped by both immediate tactical needs and long-term strategic considerations.

Thus, the procurement of military capabilities is not merely a matter of acquiring equipment; it also involves navigating a web of international relations and aligning with partners who share similar security interests and values.