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European weapons imports have nearly doubled and Russian arms exports nearly halved, according to new research published by Sweden’s Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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Russia has fallen to become the globe’s third-largest arms exporter for the first time, as global volume of international arms transfers falls slightly by 3.3 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, according to new data on international arms transfers published on 11 March.
States in Europe almost doubled their imports of major arms by more than 94 per cent and the United States has increased its arms exports by 17 per cent and improved its share of total global arms exports from 34 to 42 per cent during the same period.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) director Dan Smith said the USA has supplied around 55 per cent of European state arms imports in the period, compared to 35 per cent from 2014 to 2018.
“More than half of arms imports by European states come from the USA,” he said.
“At the same time, Europe is responsible for about a third of global arms exports, including large volumes going outside the region, reflecting Europe’s strong military–industrial capacity.
“Many factors shape European NATO states’ decisions to import from the USA, including the goal of maintaining trans-Atlantic relations alongside the more technical, military and cost-related issues.
“If trans-Atlantic relations change in the coming years, European states’ arms procurement policies may also be modified.”
The USA delivered major arms to 107 states in 2019–23, more than it has in any previous five-year period and far more than any other arms exporter according to the report.
“The USA has increased its global role as an arms supplier, an important aspect of its foreign policy, exporting more arms to more countries than it has ever done in the past,” according to SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme director Mathew George.
“This comes at a time when the USA’s economic and geopolitical dominance is being challenged by emerging powers,” he said.
France seized the title of second biggest arms exporter for the first time, ahead of Russia, as French arms exports increased by 47 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23.
The largest share of France’s arms exports (42 per cent) went to states in Asia and Oceania, and another 34 per cent went to Middle Eastern states including significant combat aircraft sales to India, Qatar, and Egypt. The largest single recipient of French arms exports was India, which accounted for nearly 30 per cent.
Russian arms exports fell by 53 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, with reported arms exports to only 12 states in 2023.
“France is using the opportunity of strong global demand to boost its arms industry through exports,” according to SIPRI researcher Katarina Djokic.
“France has been particularly successful in selling its combat aircraft outside Europe.”
Other countries with growing interest in supplying the global arms trade included Italy and South Korea.
Australia, the world’s eighth largest arms importer, decreased its arms imports by 21 per cent and reached an agreement with the UK and the USA in 2023 for the importation of at least six nuclear-powered submarines.
