Global arms transfers reached their highest growth rate since 2011–15, largely driven by soaring demand in Europe. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Europe accounted for 33 percent of global arms imports between 2021 and 2025, marking a 210 percent increase from the previous five-year period. Ukraine, receiving 9.7 percent of all arms deliveries, was the single largest recipient, followed by Poland and the United Kingdom. Analysts attribute the surge to mounting concerns over Russia’s military posture and uncertainties over the United States’ commitment to defending its European allies.
“While tensions and conflicts in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East continue to drive substantial arms imports, the sharp rise in European demand pushed global transfers up almost 10 percent,” said Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. “Deliveries to Ukraine since 2022 are the most obvious factor, but most other European states have also started importing significantly more arms to bolster their military capabilities against perceived threats from Russia.”
The United States consolidated its position as the world’s dominant arms supplier, providing 42 percent of all major international arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36 percent in 2016–20. The US exported weapons to 99 countries, including 35 in Europe, and for the first time in two decades, Europe received the largest share of US arms (38 percent), surpassing the Middle East at 33 percent. Saudi Arabia remained the single largest recipient of US arms, accounting for 12 percent of exports.
“The United States has further cemented its dominance as an arms supplier, even in an increasingly multipolar world,” noted Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher at SIPRI. “For importers, US arms offer advanced capabilities and foster strong diplomatic ties, while the US uses arms exports as both a foreign policy tool and a way to strengthen its defense industry.”
France emerged as the second-largest exporter, accounting for 9.8 percent of global arms transfers, with its exports growing 21 percent compared to 2016–20. France supplied weapons to 63 states, led by India (24 percent), Egypt (11 percent), and Greece (10 percent). European deliveries surged more than fivefold, yet 80 percent of French exports continued to flow outside the continent. Russia, in contrast, experienced a dramatic decline in exports, falling 64 percent to just 6.8 percent of global transfers. Most Russian exports were concentrated among India, China, and Belarus.
Germany overtook China to become the fourth-largest arms exporter, delivering 5.7 percent of global transfers, including nearly a quarter to Ukraine as military aid. Italy’s arms exports jumped 157 percent, pushing it to the sixth-largest exporter, while Israel increased its global share to 4.4 percent, surpassing the United Kingdom for the first time. Analysts note that Israel’s exports focus on high-demand air defense systems, even as its military engages in multiple regional conflicts.
Europe’s arms imports have been heavily influenced by NATO member states. Combined imports from the 29 European NATO countries increased 143 percent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, with the US supplying 58 percent of the total, followed by South Korea, Israel, and France. European domestic production rose due to EU investment programs, yet states continued to rely on US-supplied combat aircraft and long-range air defense systems.
Asia and Oceania imported the second-largest share of global arms at 31 percent, despite a 20 percent drop from the previous period. The decline was largely driven by China, whose imports fell 72 percent, alongside reductions from South Korea and Australia. Four regional states—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia—ranked among the world’s top ten importers. The US remained the primary supplier at 35 percent, while Russia and China accounted for 17 and 14 percent, respectively. India, the second-largest global importer, has increasingly turned to Western suppliers as Russian dominance in its imports waned. Arms transfers in South Asia reflected ongoing security tensions, including the 2025 clash between India and Pakistan.
Middle Eastern imports fell 13 percent overall, though Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait remained major regional consumers. The US supplied more than half of the region’s imports, with Italy, France, and Germany also contributing. Israel, despite its military campaigns in Gaza and across the region, increased its imports by 12 percent, predominantly from the US and Germany, including advanced fighter jets and precision munitions.
Africa saw a dramatic 41 percent drop in arms imports, with Algeria’s purchases plunging 78 percent, while Morocco became the continent’s largest importer after a 12 percent increase. In the Americas, imports rose 12 percent, dominated by US acquisitions, while South America experienced a 31 percent increase led by Brazil, whose imports jumped 150 percent.
Experts warn that the global arms market is increasingly shaped by regional conflicts, shifting alliances, and strategic perceptions of threat. Europe’s dramatic increase in military procurement underscores a new era of security anxiety, where arms imports are not just a matter of national defense but also a reflection of geopolitical uncertainty and the recalibration of global power balances.
The SIPRI report highlights that while some regions are reducing reliance on foreign arms through domestic production, others are deepening their dependence on major exporters. The US remains at the center of this network, with European demand amplifying its influence, while Russia’s export decline and the rise of European suppliers such as Germany and Italy signal evolving dynamics in global arms trade.
