Global arms transfers fell by 5.1% in the period 2018-2022 compared to the same period in 2013-2017, while Europe was rearming. Weapons imports fell in Africa (-40%), America (-21%), Asia (-7.5%) and the Middle East (-8.8%). On the other hand, there has been an increase in arms imports into East Asia due to geopolitical tensions with China and North Korea. US allies South Korea (+61 percent) and Japan (+171 percent) saw the biggest increases. The main supplier was the USA.
The United States’ share of global arms exports increased from 33% to 40% over the period 2018-2022. Meanwhile, exports from the second largest arms exporting country, Russia, have fallen from 22% to 16% of global exports. The reason for this is that Russia gives priority to supplying its own armed forces. Due to sanctions against Russia and pressure from the US and its allies, demand for Russian weapons from other countries is likely to remain low, the report says.
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France third largest arms exporter
The third largest exporter of military equipment is France, which has increased its share of global arms exports to 11% in 2018-2022 from 7.1% in the previous four years. Almost a third of the 44% increase in French arms exports went to India.
The United States supplied the most weapons to Japan (8.6 percent of total US arms exports), Australia (8.4 percent), and South Korea (6.5 percent). On the other hand, deliveries of US military equipment to NATO partner Turkey have dropped sharply due to bilateral tensions. Turkey has dropped from seventh to 27th among the top US arms recipients. A total of 23% of US arms exports went to countries in Europe between 2018 and 2022, compared to 11% in the previous four years.
Biggest customer in Russia: India
India remains the biggest recipient of Russian weapons, even though export volumes have fallen by 37%. In contrast, Russian arms exports increased to China (up 39%) and Egypt (up 44%), making them Russia’s second and third largest recipients.
India remains the world’s largest arms importer, although its imports have declined over the period. In second place is Saudi Arabia and the tiny Emirate of Qatar, which recently increased its arms imports by 311%. Australia and China rank fourth and fifth in arms imports. Arms shipments to Ukraine have increased sharply since the Russian war of aggression, making the country the world’s third largest arms importer in 2022. For the entire period from 2018 to 2022, Ukraine still ranked 14th.
40 percent of weapons to Africa from Russia
The main arms supplier to Africa is Russia. 40 percent of Africa’s arms imports from 2018 to 2022 came from Russia, followed by the US (16 percent), China (9.8 percent) and France (7.6 percent). In sub-Saharan Africa, several arms-exporting countries compete for influence, according to the report.
Russia overtook China in arms supply in 2018-2022 to become sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest supplier. 21 percent of weapons for the states came from Russia, 18 percent from China and 8.3 percent from France. Overall, arms imports from sub-Saharan African countries dropped by 23%, with Angola, Nigeria and Mali the biggest recipients.