Ethiopia more than trebled its defence budget last year to 467 million dollars after 140 million dollars in 1998. But according to the IISS, Ethiopia effectively had spent 380 million dollars on arms in 1998.

Eritrea spent an estimated 236 million dollars last year on arms although it did not officially release any figures. The last official figures in 1997 put defence expenditure at 196 million dollars. Ethiopia has 120,000 troops while Eritrea has 47,000.

Russia is earning well by selling arms to both countries while Israel supplies Eritrea mainly with arms and ammunition.

Since 1998 Russia has supplied twelve Mi-24 and Mi-17 combat helicopters, eight Su-27 fighter jets (NATO code: Flanker) and ten 152 mm artillery guns.

Ethiopia in 1998 ordered 140 Russian-built T-55 tanks from Bulgaria. Ethiopia has also bought light arms and ammunition from China, according to the IISS.

Eritrea last year ordered 200 surface to air (SAM) SA-18 missiles from Russia. Six MiG-29 fighter jets and four Mi-17 combat helicopters were also ordered from Russia.

Eritrea also ordered from Moldova six MiG-21 fighter jets and eight SU-25 jets from Georgia.

The IISS said ammunition and light weaponry was mainly supplied to Eritrea by Israel. Only the India-Pakistan conflict and the war on the Horn of Africa could explain the significant rise in Israeli arms exports, the IISS said.

Ethiopia and Russia announced in November last year the conclusion of a new trade agreement. Analysts of the IISS suspect that most of the trade is arms related.

dpa

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