The United States has solidified its position as the global leader in arms trade, with a 21% increase in share of global arms exports between 2015-19 and 2020-24. European NATO members have more than doubled their arms imports from the US, while Russia’s arms exports have plummeted by 64%.
The latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that the United States has increased its share of global arms exports to 43 per cent, while Russia’s exports have fallen by 64 per cent. This trend is part of a broader shift in the global arms trade, with European states increasing their imports and Asia and Oceania remaining the largest arms-importing region.
The United States is one of the world's largest exporters of military equipment, with a significant portion of its exports going to key allies and partners.
According to the Congressional Research Service, in 2020, the US exported over $14 billion worth of defense articles.
The majority of these exports consisted of aircraft, missiles, and other related components.
The US has strict regulations governing arms export, including the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, which requires the President to ensure that all military sales meet national security interests.
Key recipients of US arms exports include countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
European NATO members have more than doubled their arms imports between 2015-19 and 2020-24, with the USA supplying 64 per cent of these arms. This increase in dependence on US-supplied arms is a significant shift from previous years, when European states were seeking to reduce their reliance on foreign suppliers.
The ‘United States has increased its share of global arms exports by 21 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24.’ The USA supplied major arms to 107 states in 2020-24, with the largest single recipient being Saudi Arabia (12 per cent of US arms exports).
The United States is one of the world's largest exporters of military equipment, with a significant portion going to allies and partners.
In 2020, the US supplied over $47 billion worth of arms to foreign countries.
The top recipients include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
The US arms supply is governed by various laws and regulations, including the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act.
These laws aim to ensure that arms are sold responsibly and do not contribute to human rights abuses or regional instability.
In contrast, Russia’s arms exports have fallen sharply by 64 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including trade sanctions, the war in Ukraine, and the growing capacity of domestic arms industries in countries such as China.
Asia and Oceania remains the largest arms-importing region, despite a 21 per cent drop in imports to the region. India was the world’s second-largest arms importer, with its imports decreasing by 9.3 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
Arms imports by states in the Middle East fell by 20 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24. However, four of the top 10 global importers in 2020-24 were in the Middle East: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait.
Arms transfers to West Africa have been rising sharply in the past 15 years, with the combined arms imports of West African states almost doubling between 2010-14 and 2020-24. Nigeria accounted for by far the biggest share (34 per cent) of arms imports to West Africa.
Combat aircraft are the main long-range strike weapon imported by states, but interest in long-range land-attack missiles is increasing. The ‘USA supplied 45 per cent of global long-range land-attack missile exports in 2020-24, delivering them to 7 states.’
Long-range land-attack missiles are designed to strike targets at distances exceeding 300 kilometers.
These missiles typically use advanced guidance systems, such as GPS or terrain contour matching, to ensure accuracy.
They can be equipped with various warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, penetration, or fuel-air explosive types.
The development and deployment of long-range land-attack missiles raise concerns about regional stability and the potential for escalation in conflicts.
Arms imports by states in the Americas increased by 13 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24. The USA was the biggest importer in the region (accounting for 3.1 per cent of global arms imports and 50 per cent of imports by states in the Americas).
