Introduction: The Paradox of Peace and Profit
In a world of idealism, countries will value peace and seek collaboration and reciprocal development first. In the world of realism, countries around the world are spending billions on weapons, ammunition and sophisticated military equipment often at the cost of diplomacy or social welfare. Even so, the contradiction raises an important question: why does the defense industry extract profits by consuming undue attention to what are claims for peace throughout the world, and who profits from ongoing global instability?
International Rules and Their Limitations
There are several types of international treaties that seek to control the transfer of arms and weapons in particular:
- Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):
Aims for the peaceful use of nuclear power and aims to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It still has enforcement issues, as a handful of nuclear armed nations are not included in the treaty. - Arms Trade Treaty (ATT):
Regulates the global trade of traditional weapons in an effort to control illegal transfers. 116 parties have ratified the deal, but as could be expected, the treaty is less potent because the large traditional weapon exporters, including the United States signed it, but did not ratify it.
- Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):
35 countries have voluntarily come together to prevent missile technology proliferation. The membership being non-binding, the other state parties’ compliance and adherence varies.
Challenges in Enforcement:
Even with these frameworks, enforcement is inadequate and inconsistent. Powerful states take advantage of flaws for either geopolitical reasons, or avoid compliance to suit their needs. Illegal marketplaces and clandestine routes only further undermine these laws, allowing weapons to enter conflict areas.
Who Benefits from the Arms Trade?
Top Arms Exporters
There are few countries in the world arms trade relying on weapons production/export and trade for a massive exchequer:
| Rank | Country | Arms Export Share (%) | Notable Details |
| 1 | United States | 43% | Largest exporter; significant sales to the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. |
| 2 | France | 9.6% | Surpassed Russia; major deals with India and Middle Eastern countries. |
| 3 | Russia | 7.8% | Decline due to the Ukraine war; focus shifting to domestic defense needs. |
| 4 | China | 5.9% | Supplies neighboring countries and select African nations. |
| 5 | Germany | 5.6% | Exports to European and Middle Eastern countries. |
Source: SIPRI Report on Global Arms Trade (2025)
Economic and Strategic Gains
Production and sale of weapons creates dependencies resulting in a level of diplomatic leverage in states. Weapon sales often accentuate the idea that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” and lead to proxy wars and instability in regions.
Who Seeks Disturbance and Why?
Nations with Vested Interests
Some states appear to have a vested interest in generating and maintaining geopolitical tension:
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Russia:
In 2023, Russia allocated $109 billion for defense, to increase its global footprint, notwithstanding economic challenges Russia has also engaged in cyber-espionage.
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China:
To assert its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, China is spending $296 billion on defense in 2023 and is improving its armed forces including for cyber warfare.
- United States: The U.S. has military spending of $916 billion and leads the world in arms exports and military presence which greatly affects various geopolitical environments.
Motivations Behind the Global Defense Race/Military Expansion
These nations usually justify their budgets for defense and their exports of weapons as a necessity of their security and especially of their allies, but their military expenditures and strategic moves create perpetual tensions in the international community.
Cyber Warfare: The New Frontier
Digital Battlegrounds
Cyberspace is becoming a more central frontier for warfare. The United States, China, Russia and Israel are along with other nations using its digital apparatus and capabilities to seriously disrupt the critical information systems and infrastructure. Laws governing digital weapons and warfare are struggling to remain current with technology; hence cyber warfare runs contrary to weapons control that had heretofore been based upon traditional armaments.
Case Study: Russia’s Cyber-Espionage
This year Russian military intelligence has been engaging in cyber-espionage. Its tasking of security cameras at border crossings has allowed it to use the cameras to track events related to the transportation of military supplies to Ukraine from Western nations.
Conclusion: The Complex Path to Peace
Everyone wants peace – however, disarmament is a challenging process because of the related objectives of business, power, and security. The reality is that geopolitical rivalry and selective enforcement have rendered the existence of international rules irrelevant. Unless confidence is reinstated and meaningful cooperation is created, sometimes costing international stability, the trade of armaments will thrive.
“Peace is not achieved by signatures on paper, but by a transformation in mindset, when nations abandon the arms race and embrace security as a collective duty, not a competitive weapon”
