According to a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US has accounted for more than 60 per cent of European NATO states’ arms purchases over the past five years.
European NATO members more than doubled their arms imports compared to the previous five-year period.
Across Europe, arms imports soared by 155 per cent between 2020–24 compared to the previous five-year period, as states reacted to Russian aggression and uncertainties surrounding US foreign policy.
Ukraine has emerged as the world’s largest arms importer with its imports increasing nearly 100 times over compared with 2015-19, according to the report revealed on March 10.
Ukraine accounted for 8.8 per cent of global arms imports and at least 35 states supplied weapons to the country, with the US leading at 45 per cent of its imports, followed by Germany (12 per cent) and Poland (11 per cent).
The US dominated global arms exports, accounting for 43 per cent of total sales, followed by France at 9.6 per cent.
France saw its arms exports to Europe grow by 187 per cent, driven by combat aircraft deliveries to Greece and Croatia, although India took the largest share (28 per cent).
The US supplied 107 countries, with Europe overtaking the Middle East (35 per cent compared to 33 per cent) as the top destination for US arms for the first time in two decades.
Saudi Arabia remained the largest single recipient, taking 12 per cent of US exports. “The USA continues to be the supplier of choice for advanced long-range strike capabilities,” said Mathew George, SIPRI programme director.
“The new arms transfer figures clearly reflect the rearmament taking place among European states in response to the threat from Russia,” said George.
“However, some major arms importers, including Saudi Arabia, India, and China, experienced significant declines in import volumes for various reasons, despite high threat perceptions in their regions.”
The report also highlighted that the US supplied 64 per cent of arms purchased by European NATO members, up from 52 per cent between 2015 and 2019.
Despite the recent calls for greater independence and European rearmament, Europe has become more dependent on US weapons in the past five years.
“The transatlantic arms-supply relationship has deep roots,” noted Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher at SIPRI, highlighting almost 500 combat aircraft and other weapons were still on order from the US despite efforts to bolster Europe’s own arms industry.
Conversely, Russia’s exports fell by 64 per cent.
“The war against Ukraine has accelerated this decline,” Wezeman said, citing battlefield needs, sanctions and pressure from the US and allies.
Russia supplied 33 nations, with India (38 per cent), China (17 per cent) and Kazakhstan (11 per cent) receiving two-thirds of its exports.
Asia and Oceania, despite a 21 per cent drop in imports, remained the largest arms-importing region at 33 per cent of global transfers, with India as the second-biggest importer worldwide.
China’s imports fell 64 per cent, reflecting its growing domestic arms production.
It was the fourth-largest exporter of arms in 2020–24, with 5.9 per cent of global arms exports. Despite China’s efforts to increase its arms exports, many large importers do not buy Chinese arms for political reasons.
Another notable shift was the rise of arms imports in West Africa, which almost doubled (+82 per cent) between 2010-14 and 2020-24.
Nigeria was by far the largest importer, accounting for 34 per cent of West Africa’s total arms imports during this period.
“The growth in arms imports to West Africa has been striking. While the volume of imports remains relatively small, it has important geopolitical implications,” said Katarina Djokic, researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
“States like Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal seem to be rapidly increasing their imports. Arms suppliers are using arms exports to boost their influence in this part of the world, including emerging suppliers — primarily Turkey — alongside more established actors such as China, France, Russia and the USA,” she said.
