European arms imports nearly double, US and French exports rise, and Russian exports fall sharply: SIPRI

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. States in Europe almost doubled their imports of major arms (+94 per cent) between 2014–18 and 2019–23, according to new data on international arms transfers published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Far larger volumes of arms flowed to Asia and Oceania and the Middle East in 2019–23, where nine of the 10 largest arms importers are.

TheUSA’s arms exports grew by 17 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, and its share of total global arms exports rose from 34 per cent to 42 per cent. The USA delivered major arms to 107 states in2019–23, more than it has in any previous five-year period and far more than any other arms exporter.

France’s arms exports increased by 47 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23 and for the first time it was the second biggest arms exporter, just ahead of Russia.The increase in French arms exports was largely due to deliveries of combat aircraft to India, Qatar and Egypt.

Russia’s arms exports halved. Russia was for the first time the third largest arms exporter, falling just behind France.

The global volume of international arms transfers fell slightly by 3.3 per cent between2014–18 and 2019–23.

See the full report here.