Limitation of the buildup and transfer of conventional armaments on a world-wide and regional basis

During the 35 years since it was created, the United Nations — and indeed the international community as a whole — has not had to face even a single case of nuclear warfare. That same period has, however, witnessed over a hundred cases of conventional warfare, resulting in millions of casualties and great destruction. Thus, on the basis of their frequency of use and the degree of death and destruction they have caused, conventional armaments increasingly command international attention. Moreover, conventional arms and armed forces consume about 80 per cent of the estimated 500 billion dollars currently spent annually on the military, and represent the bulk of the world-wide escalation of militarization. Furthermore, the conventional arms race involves more countries than the nuclear arms race, thus spreading negative socio-economic and politico-security effects to all regions.

Related Subject(s): Disarmament