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Global Arms Imports
Context:
Ukraine emerged as the world’s largest importer of major arms between 2020 and 2024, marking an almost hundredfold increase compared to the 2015-2019 period, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute based in Stockholm, Sweden. Established in 1966, SIPRI conducts research on issues related to conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. The institute aims to contribute to the understanding of conditions necessary for peaceful solutions to international conflicts and sustainable peace.
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- The surge in arms imports is attributed to the ongoing war with Russia, which has now entered its fourth year.
- India ranked as the second-largest arms importer during the same period, despite a 9.3% decline in its total arms imports compared to 2015-2019.
- The country remained the top recipient of arms from both Russia and France, though its imports from Moscow have seen a significant decline.
- In contrast, China, for the first time since 1990-1994, dropped out of the list of the world’s top 10 arms importers, reflecting the nation’s growing domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
India’s Shifting Arms Import Trends
- Russia: India’s reliance on Russian arms has decreased over the years, with Moscow accounting for 36% of India’s arms imports in 2020-24, a notable drop from 55% in 2015-19 and 72% in 2010-14.
- France: However, India continues to engage in major defence deals, particularly with France.
- It remains the largest buyer of French arms, receiving 28% of France’s total exports—nearly double the share that went to all European buyers combined (15%).
- Qatar was the second-largest importer of French arms, accounting for 9.7% of exports.
- India has already procured 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpene-class submarines from France, with deals for 26 Rafale-M jets and three more submarines expected to be finalised soon.
Pakistan’s Arms Imports Rise
- Pakistan saw a 61% increase in arms imports between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
- China remained its dominant supplier, providing 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in the latest period, up from 74% in 2015-2019.
- This reflects Beijing’s expanding influence in South Asia’s defence landscape.
Global Export Trends
- Europe: The SIPRI report highlights a significant surge in European arms imports, which rose by 155% in response to increasing security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- USA: Meanwhile, the United States strengthened its position as the world’s leading arms exporter, increasing its share of global arms exports to 43%.
- Russia: Russia’s arms exports, however, declined by 64%, falling to 7.8% of global exports, putting it behind France, which accounted for 9.6% of global arms sales in 2020-24.
- France: France exported arms to 65 countries, with its arms sales to other European nations nearly tripling (+187%) between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
- This surge was primarily driven by the supply of combat aircraft to Greece and Croatia, as well as arms shipments to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Arms Imports and Global Transfers
- Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports in 2020-24, with weapons supplied by at least 35 countries since the onset of the war in 2022.
- The United States was the largest supplier to Ukraine, providing 45% of its total arms imports, followed by Germany (12%) and Poland (11%).
- Ukraine was the only European nation among the top 10 global arms importers, though several other European nations significantly increased their arms procurement during the same period.
