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Conventional Weapons
Conventional weapons include everything from rifles to battle
tanks, landmines and missiles, and are the most commonly used
weapons in current violent conflicts. The United States and
United Kingdom play central roles in their manufacture and
trade. According to an annual Congressional Research Service
report, the United States and the United Kingdom topped the
list of countries in the value of worldwide arms deliveries
of conventional weapons in 2005, the most recent year for
which this analysis is available. The United States delivered
$11.6 billion in conventional weapons in 2005. That means
the United States alone was responsible for almost 45% of
the total value of international arms delivered throughout
the entire world.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,
there were 17 major armed conflicts in 16 locations during
2005. Many of these conflicts were fought almost exclusively
with small arms and light weapons (SALW). These are loosely
defined as any weapons that can be easily carried by one or
two people, and range from a handgun or grenade to a shoulder-fired
missile launcher. Despite the dangers posed by these arms,
both light and heavy weapon sales are currently subject to
insufficient coordination and control. Arms exporters exercise
little restraint over their own sales, and participate in
only vague and non-binding international cooperation.
BASIC has tracked weapons sales, and conducted research,
analysis, and advocacy in partnership with other like-minded
organizations to pressure governments to establish effective
control and monitoring of conventional arms. BASIC has focused
on export controls and subsidies, SALW, and more specifically,
Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).
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