Global arms trade has seen a significant uptick over the past five years, with Europe experiencing a surge in imports, according to a recent report. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) noted that European countries have more than tripled their imports, partly due to supplying weapons to Ukraine and enhancing their own military capabilities amidst concerns about Russia.
The report by SIPRI revealed a 9.2 percent increase in global arms flows from 2021 to 2025 compared to the previous five-year period. While Europe’s arms imports are not yet at Cold War levels, it has become the largest recipient of arms, with 33 percent of global imports coming into the region. The United States remains a major supplier, accounting for 48 percent of Europe’s arms imports.
Germany emerged as the fourth-largest arms exporter during 2021-2025, surpassing China. The US continues to dominate global arms exports, representing 42 percent of all international transfers in the period. Despite discussions about Europe achieving self-sufficiency in arms production, only a fifth of arms flow within the region comes from European suppliers.
In the Middle East, arms imports decreased by 13 percent between 2016-2020 and 2021-2025. However, the region still relies heavily on imports, with over half coming from the United States. The top importers from the Middle East include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
The United States maintains a significant lead in arms exports, with France as the second-largest exporter. Russia, the third-largest exporter, experienced a decline in exports, with its global share dropping from 21 percent to 6.8 percent. This decline is attributed to Russia using more of its produced equipment internally and facing restrictions from the US and Europe on arms purchases by third countries.
China, a major importer in previous years, shifted towards domestic production, leading to a 72 percent decrease in imports. This move caused Asia and Oceania’s arms imports to drop by 20 percent in 2021-2025. Countries like Japan and Taiwan have increased their arms imports significantly during this period, reflecting concerns over China’s military capabilities in the region.
