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Biggest Arms Exporters in the World

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Only five countries accounted for 76% of all weapons exports from 2015 to 2019: the United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China. According to the current data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States is the top leader in arms sales worldwide, with 36 percent of the total and up to 96 clients (SIPRI).

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United States

According to the current data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States is the top leader in arms sales worldwide, with 36 percent of the total and up to 96 clients. However, the Middle East accounted for half of its exports, with Saudi Arabia contributing 25%.

In 2019, the US Congress considered imposing certain restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia. However, Donald Trump and the Saudi monarchy overcame these difficulties and ensured the supply of weapons that fed Saudi Arabia’s aggressive growth in the region. Between 2017 and 2021, India and Saudi Arabia were the top importers of significant weaponry, accounting for 11% and 9% of the world market. Egypt came in second with 5.7 percent of the market. According to SIPRI data, the Middle East accounted for 47 percent of US exports, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 24 percent of total exports. The Asia Pacific Region received 27%, Europe and Central Asia received 16%, South Asia received 5.4 percent, Africa received 2.7 percent, and other countries in the Americas received 2.6 percent.

What other countries Lead in Arms and Weapon Exports Besides the United States?

India, embroiled in a historic territorial dispute with Pakistan, has cut its weaponry imports from the United States in half to diversify its supply base. Still, Russia has unquestionably been the biggest loser.

In Europe, the arms sector is also a pillar, with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy accounting for 23% of all arms exports between 2015 and 2019, up to three percentage points from the previous five years. While foreign arms purchases are down in America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, European arms imports are increasing. According to the Swedish institute’s analysis, the deterioration of relations between most European countries and Russia is a significant driver of this rise.

Russia

After the United States, Russia is the world’s second-largest arms exporter, accounting for around 20% worldwide weapons shipments. Moscow supplied $28 billion worth of weapons to 45 countries between 2016 and 2020. Nearly 90% of Russia’s weaponry is sent to ten countries. While the United States has increased its market share in recent years, Russia has declined. It has gone from the driving force behind 27% of all arms exports to monopolizing 21%. The main reason is a drop in demand in India, which has stopped ordering 47 percent of the weapons from Russia between 2010 and 2014. 

Russia has 5,977 nuclear weapons, while the US has 5,428; Russia and the US both have roughly 1,600 operational deployed strategic nuclear warheads as of 2022. Moreover, the Russian stockpile is rising, while the US stockpile is declining.

With an estimated 6,257 total nuclear warheads, Russia has the most nuclear weapons. India, Russia’s largest customer, has purchased 23 percent of Russia’s armaments for $6.5 billion over the last five years. Russia accounts for 49.3 percent of India’s overall arms imports. China is the second-largest importer of Russian weapons, spending $5.1 billion during the same time, followed by Algeria ($4.2 billion), Egypt ($3.3 billion), and Vietnam ($1.7 billion). 

France

Russia has purchased military weapons worth €152 million from France. According to Investigate Europe’s findings, France exports 44 percent of European armaments to Russia, far ahead of its neighbors. Moreover, France delivered cutting-edge military equipment to Russia between 2015 and 2020. As a result, Vladimir Putin has been able to modernize 1,000 tanks, fighter planes, and combat helicopters with this technology, which may be employed in the Ukrainian conflict.

According to Grandjean, Europe accounted for 25% of French arms sales, 15% coming from European Union members and 10% from other European countries. The United Kingdom and Greece were among the top six client countries. Macron’s next destination will be Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of French arms, in 2020. In defiance of UN experts who have called on France and others to suspend military supplies to the coalition because they could be used to commit unlawful strikes or perhaps war crimes, France has doggedly continued to export arms to Saudi Arabia.

China

China’s arms exports account for a minor percentage of global arms sales—roughly 5% of international arms exports in the last decade. China’s arms exports are still small compared to the United States and Russia. Deep-sea drones, ballistic missiles, tanks, and fighter jets are displayed in military parades and on occasions like the Communist Party’s centennial celebrations, demonstrating China’s expanding military might.

While China has increasingly moved toward producing its military gear, much of its imported armament still originates from Russia. This relationship dates back to the Cold War’s end in the 1990s. In addition, several other European countries contribute to China’s military equipment stockpile. After Russia, France (9.7%) and Ukraine (9.7%) were China’s following most significant sources of weaponry from 2016 to 2020. (6.3 percent).

China is also the second-largest recipient of Swiss exports, accounting for 13% of overall exports, and it imports military arms from both Germany and the United Kingdom. In addition, China has a history of arming its neighbors, functioning as the principal weaponry supplier to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, among other Asian countries. Since 1991, Pakistan has been the top receiver of China’s weaponry exports. China has also strengthened ties with several African countries, which purchased 19.1% of China’s total exports between 2010 and 2020.

Germany

In 2021, Germany’s arms exports set a new high, with Egypt accounting for little under half of the total. The new “traffic light coalition” administration wants more regulation, according to the ministry in charge. According to official numbers announced on Monday, arms shipments to Egypt lifted Germany’s weapons exports to record levels in 2021. A total of €5.95 billion was spent on so-called third countries that were not on the list. Egypt was the biggest spender, with €4.34 billion worth of products — mostly air defense systems and naval equipment — exported to the country.

Egypt (€4.33 billion), the United States (€1.01 billion), the Netherlands (€821 million), Singapore (€630 million), Australia (€264 million), the United Kingdom (€226 million), South Korea (€187 million), Austria (€170 million), Brazil (€144 million), and Switzerland (€137 million) were the top ten countries buying arms from Germany in 2021. Although Germany has the technical capability to develop weapons of mass devastation, it has largely avoided doing so since World War II. On the other hand, Germany participates in NATO nuclear weapons sharing agreements and trains to deliver US atomic weapons. Although Germany has the technical capability to develop weapons of mass devastation, it has largely avoided doing so since World War II. On the other hand, Germany participates in NATO nuclear weapons sharing agreements and trains to deliver US atomic weapons.

Italy

Most Italian weaponry is sold to countries outside the EU and NATO: Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Saudi Arabia are among the top ten buyers. Italy’s armaments exports are expected to reach $806 million in 2020. Even though Italy’s arms exports have changed significantly in recent years, Over the previous 15 years, Italy’s arms export production has climbed to 1.4 percent of GDP, further fueling continuing armed conflicts throughout the world.

Egypt is the top buyer of weapons systems exported by Italian military businesses for the second year. Despite the terrible abuses of human rights and non-cooperation in the Regeni and Zaki instances, armed trade with the autocratic al-Sisi administration continues to thrive.

With a counter value of 212 million euros, Qatar is once again among the top Italian arms destinations, followed by Germany (197.6 million, slightly down) and surprising Romania. France (154.5 million euros, down 120), Turkmenistan (down from second place in 2019 but still holding 149.5 million euros in-licenses despite nearly 300 million euros.

United Kingdom

The UK is the world’s second-largest exporter of defense items. Between 2011 and 2020, the Middle East received 60% of UK defense exports, followed by North America (17%) and Europe (15%). (15 percent ). Saudi Arabia has been the top importer of guns from the United Kingdom over the previous five years, much more than the second and third places, Oman and the United States.

Despite Israel’s unlawful occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem since 1967, the UK has continued to sell weaponry to it. Between 2011 and 2020, the Middle East received 60% of UK defense exports, followed by North America (17%) and Europe (15%). (15 percent ).

South Korea

South Korea was the eighth-largest arms exporter between 2016 and 2020, accounting for 2.7 percent of global defense exports. It was more than three times the country’s share in the previous five years. Moon’s efforts to modernize military systems and optimize their deployment within South Korea have contributed significantly to the country’s export growth. Excess capacity can now be sold abroad, as the domestic military market has been flooded with cutting-edge equipment from both foreign and domestic providers.

In February 2022, South Korea set a new milestone by selling $1.7 billion worth of K9s to Egypt, marking the first time the country’s defense sector had set foot on the African continent. As a result, the K9 now accounts for more than half of the world’s self-propelled artillery market. In addition, 50 percent of South Korea’s arms exports came from Asia and Oceania, while 24 percent came from Europe and 17 percent came from the Middle East.

South Korea is the ninth-largest exporter of weaponry in the world. According to the institution, the United Kingdom accounted for 14 percent of South Korean arms exports over the same period, followed by the Philippines (12 percent) and Thailand (11 percent).

According to the defense market report, South Korea has increased efforts to get into overseas defense markets with its local products.

Spain

Spain’s arms exports totaled 1,201 million dollars in 2020. Though Spain’s arms exports have fluctuated significantly in recent years, they have tended to rise from 1971 to 2020, reaching 1,201 million US dollars in 2020. Our computerized data aide crafted the description.

In 2017, Spain supplied around €361 million worth of armaments to nations actively participating in the multinational coalition fighting in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia. Spain sold €270.2 million worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, then supplied to countries such as Bahrain. Military weapons are prohibited other than revolvers, pistols, and the arms of heading 93.07. 9301 commodity group exports “Military weapons, other than revolvers, pistols, and guns of heading 93.07.” accounted for 0.002% of overall exports from Spain (total merchandise exports from Spain in 2020 were $ 312 billion).

A vast list of potential buyers:

According to the most recent official figures, 71 percent of defense exports (including Turkey) were headed for NATO countries, which in many cases correspond to joint military programs of the EU, which is attempting to harmonize the 27 member states’ forces so that they can act together. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and Oman bought the rest. Following European accords, the government, which must approve all exports, banned the sale of missile control and launching systems for frigates in Burma. Togo, Tunisia, Portugal, and France received police and security equipment and dual-use equipment (sensors and software that may be used for civilian and military purposes) from Saudi Arabia, the United States, and China.

Israel 

(IMI), sometimes known as Taas, is an Israeli weapons manufacturer. It primarily produces firearms, ammunition, and military technology for Israeli security forces (particularly Israel’s army, the Israel Defense Forces or IDF), though its small arms are well-known worldwide. Aside from Israel’s own arms industry, the United States is Israel’s largest arms supplier. However, several other countries, particularly Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, are key suppliers. The United States and Europe hold the majority of exports. Southeast Asia and Latin America are two other critical purchasers of Israeli defense equipment. India is also a prominent destination for Israeli arms exports, and it has remained the world’s largest arms market. According to the SIPRI database, Israel’s most powerful weapons export customers were India (43 percent), Azerbaijan (16 percent), Vietnam (10 percent), and the United States (4 percent). In the year 2020, India was the largest consumer of Israeli armaments. Does

Turkey buys high-tech defense equipment from Israel, and Israel buys military boots and uniforms from Turkey.

Epilogue

The most visible negative impact of the arms trade on health is the death and injury caused by weapons in conflicts. When a large portion of a country’s resources are diverted to military spending, it harms its health and human services.

The arms trade frequently causes human rights violations. Some governments spend more on defense than they do on social development, communications infrastructure, and combined healthcare.

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