The urgency to specify a not only responds to the growing distrust with the US administration, also part of the need to correct an imbalance that comes from afar. Between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, the European NATO members doubled their weapons importswith a 105% increase promoted, to a large extent, by the supply of USA (64%). Very behind are the other countries that ‘feed’ the arsenales of Europe: France and South Korea (6.5% each), followed by Germany (4,7%) e Israel (3.9%), according to data from the last report released by the International Stockholm Institute for Peace Research (SIPRI).
The report highlights that NATO European countries are taking action to reduce your dependence Regarding the US in defense, although it will be difficult to redirect the course of its industry. “With one Russia more and more belligerent and tense transatlantic relationships during the first presidency of (Donald) TrumpNATO European states have taken measures to reduce their dependence on arms imports and strengthen the European arms industry, “he says Pieter WezemanResearcher at the SIPRI arms transfers program. “However, The transatlantic relationship in matters of weapons has deep roots. Imports from the US have increased and NATO European states have orders of almost 500 combat planes and many other weapons to receive, “he says.
The European dependence It is not the only thing that nourishes the American arms sector, although it is the main novelty. For the first time in two decades, most exports were directed to Europe instead of Near East. The last five years was especially beneficial for Washington, who strengthened its hegemony with a 21% increase in sales and increased its World market share from 35% to 43%. In this context, the United States has established itself as the main arms supplier for three of the five largest importers globally: Ukrainewhich leads the ranking, and Qatar y Saudi Arabiathird and fourth place, respectively.
Ukraine, the world’s largest weapon importer
After the beginning of the conflict in eastern Europe, the Ukrainian imports They multiplied by 100 with respect to the previous period. The report collects that At least 35 states sent weapons to Ukraine After the Russian invasion launched in 2022 and provides that there are even more substantial deliveries.
kyiv received the 8.8% of all weapons imports Between 2020 and 2024, most of which came from the United States (45%), followed by Germany (12%) and Poland (11%).
One of the inflection points in the importation of kyiv weapons in 2024 was the, which resulted in the supply of this type of weapons and aircraft by countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway provided combat airplanes.
Russia and China’s exports fall, while France triples their sales
In the 2020-24 period, France became the Second major weapons exporter in the world (9.6%) and delivered heavy weapons to 65 countries, mostly aimed at states of Asia and Oceania (35%), followed by those of the Middle East (28%) and Europe (15%). The French exports of heavy armament to others European states almost tripled Between 2015-19 and 2020-24 (+187%), as the main consequence of the delivery of combat aircraft to Greece and Croatia, as well as the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
In contrast, Russia lost positions and stood as the Third country that exports more weapons of the world with 7.8% of the total. Moscow registered one Sales fall of 64%a trend that had already begun in 2020 and that obeys several factors such as the needs on the battlefield, the commercial sanctions and the “pressures” of the US and its allies to other states so that they do not buy weapons, the study highlights.
For its part, China also reduced its exports and was the Major Armas Exporter Fourth In 2020-24, with 5.9% of global exports. Despite China’s efforts to increase their weapons exports, many major importers avoid buying Chinese weapons for political issues.
Middle East imports decrease
In Near East Weapons imports They fell 20% Between 2015-19 and 2020-24, although four of the 10 main global importers are located in the region. Among them, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait. More than half of weapons imports came from the US, while 13% came from Italy, 9.8% of France and 7.6% of Germany.
“Los Regional conflicts and tensions They continue to promote the demand for weapons imports in the Middle East, “he said Zain HussainResearcher at the Sipri arms transfers program. “Given the volume of pending deliveries, the Middle East will continue to be one of the main matters importing regions.”
In that sense, the impact of the war in Gaza has not meant a great increase in the volume of weapons imports by Israel. According to the study, during this period the United States supplied most of the weapons imports of Israel (66%), followed by Germany (33%) and Italy (1%).
More weapons in Western Africa due to the increase in conflicts
Insecurity and escalation of violence have also meant a Increase in arms transfers in the African continentespecially in the Sahel region and in Western Africa.
In the last 15 years already measure that security has deteriorated, weapons imports of Western Africa states They practically doubled. The country that represents the greatest proportion of imports is Nigeriawith 34%. SIPRI researchers emphasize that although the volume of imports is still small, the increase is being produced in a very accelerated way, also in countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali y Senegal.
