The Cost of the U.S. Arms Trade

The global arms trade is big business and the United States accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s weapons exports. Aside from the profit motivation, selling arms abroad can be an effective foreign policy tool, allowing the United States to exert influence over conflict and security worldwide without having to put boots on the ground. But are the risks worth the reward?

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Host
  • Gabrielle Sierra
    Podcast Host and Producer
Credits

Asher Ross - Supervising Producer

Markus Zakaria - Audio Producer and Sound Designer

Molly McAnany - Associate Podcast Producer

Episode Guests
  • Christa N. Almonte
    Military Fellow, U.S. Navy
  • William D. Hartung
    Senior Research Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
  • Rachel Stohl
    Vice President of Research Programs, Stimson Center

Show Notes

The United States is the world’s top arms exporter, with 2020 sales from leading U.S. producers reaching $285 billion. It’s a lucrative business, but arms trade is also part of Washington’s foreign policy: it’s used to support U.S. allies, as leverage in international agreements, and even to help one side over another during a conflict. In this episode, Why It Matters explores the global implications of arms trade, and the responsibilities and moral burdens that come with the United States’ outsize role. 

 

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From CFR

 

Lauren Kahn, “A Refreshed Autonomous Weapons Policy Will Be Critical for U.S. Global Leadership Moving Forward” 

 

Rebecca Lissner, “The Future of Strategic Arms Control” 

 

U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control

 

The Future of Arms Control, With Rose Gottemoeller,” The President’s Inbox

 

From Our Guests

 

William D. Hartung, “Bombs & Guns: Biden’s ‘Business as Usual’ Approach to U.S. Arms Sales,” Responsible Statecraft

 

William D. Hartung, “Promoting Stability or Fueling Conflict? The Impact of U.S. Arms Sales on National and Global Security,” Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

 

Diana Ohlbaum and Rachel Stohl, “Yes, Congress, There Is Something You Can Do About Reckless Arms Sales,” Just Security

 

Rachel Stohl, “Improving U.S. Conventional Arms Policies,” Arms Control Association 
 

Read More

 

Connor Echols, “Where Are Our Weapons Going? U.S. Transparency Is Taking a Nosedive,” Responsible Statecraft

 

Andrew Feinstein, The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade

 

Editorial Board, “Yemen Crisis Underlines a Shift in Arms Exports,” Financial Times

 

Watch and Listen

 

The Global Arms Trade: Assessing Trends and Future Outlook,” Stimson Center

 

The Real Harm of the Global Arms Trade | Samantha Nutt,” TED Talks Live 

 

Who Profits From the Global Arms Trade?,” Deutsche Welle

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