Global Arms Trade Falls Slightly, but Imports to Europe, East Asia, and Oceania Rise

‘Tensions between China and many states in Asia and Oceania are the main driver of arms imports in the region,’ said Siemon T. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. ‘These tensions are also a major factor in US arms transfers to the region. The USA remains the largest supplier to Asia and Oceania, as arms exports are an important element of US foreign policy aimed at China.’

Indian arms imports decreased by 21 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21. However, it remained the largest importer globally and India is planning large-scale arms imports in the next few years from several suppliers.

Middle Eastern Arms Imports Level Off After Sharp Increase
Middle Eastern states imported 2.8 percent more arms in 2017–21 than they did in 2012–16. This followed an 86 percent increase in arms imports to the region between 2007–11 and 2012–16.

As the conflict in Yemen continued and tensions between Iran and other states in the region remained high, arms imports played an important role in security developments in the Gulf. Arms imports by Saudi Arabia—the world’s second largest arms importer—increased by 27 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21. Qatar’s arms imports grew by 227 percent, propelling it from the 22nd largest arms importer to the 6th largest. In contrast, arms imports by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shrank by 41 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, taking it from the third largest to the ninth largest arms importer globally. All three of these states and Kuwait have placed large orders for major arms planned for delivery in the coming years.

US, French Arms Exports Rise; Russian, Chinese and German Arms Exports fall
Arms exports by the USA grew by 14 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, increasing its global share from 32 percent to 39 percent. Arms exports by the USA in 2017–21 were more than double (108 percent more) those of the second largest exporter, Russia. The Middle East accounted for 43 percent of US arms transfers. Especially important for the growth of US arms exports was an increase in deliveries of major arms to Saudi Arabia, by 106 percent.

Russia, which accounted for 19 percent of all exports of major arms in 2017–21, saw its exports shrink by 26 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21. The overall decrease in Russia’s arms exports was almost entirely due to a fall in arms deliveries to two recipients: India and Viet Nam. However, several large arms deliveries from Russia to India are expected in the coming years.

France accounted for 11 percent of global arms exports in 2017–21, making it the third largest arms exporter. France increased its arms exports by 59 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21.

In 2017–21 China was the fourth largest arms exporter and Germany the fifth largest. Arms exports by China decreased by 31 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, while Germany’s arms exports fell by 19 percent.

Other Notable Developments:

·  Italian arms exports represented 3.1 percent of the global total in 2017–21 and were 16 percent higher than in 2012–16.

·  Arms exports by the United Kingdom dropped by 41 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21. The UK accounted for 2.9 percent of total arms exports in 2017–21.

·  Between 2012–16 and 2017–21 there were overall decreases in arms imports by states in three world regions: the Americas (–36 percent), Africa (–34 percent), and Asia and Oceania (–4.7 percent).

·  In 2017–21 arms imports by South American states were lower than in any five-year period in the past half century. Brazil is the only state in South America with substantial deliveries of arms pending.

·  Myanmar’s arms imports fell by 32 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21. It accounted for 0.6 percent of global arms transfers in 2017–21.

·  In 2017–21 the five largest arms importers in sub-Saharan Africa were Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali and Botswana.

·  Taiwan’s arms imports shrank by 68 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, but are scheduled to increase significantly in the coming years.

·  Israeli arms imports increased by 19 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21.

·  Egypt’s arms imports grew by 73 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, making it the third largest arms importer globally.