Europe becomes top importer of US weapons for first time in two decades

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered a global arms rearmament trend. Most countries are either expanding their military arsenals, modernising them, or both, boosting sales for major arms exporters.

According to Wionews citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), international deliveries of major weapons increased by 9.2% when comparing 2016–2020 with 2021–2025.

Notably, Europe has become the main importer of American weapons for the first time in two decades, receiving 38% of US exports. Overall arms shipments to Europe rose by 217%, with only a quarter of US deliveries going to Ukraine.

The top global arms exporters in 2021–2025 were:

• United States – 42% of global exports, a 27% increase. Weapons were sold to 99 countries, with Saudi Arabia as the largest buyer outside Europe (12%).
• France – 9.8% of global exports, up 21%. Main buyers include India (24% of French exports), Egypt (11%), and Greece (10%).
• Russia – 6.8% of the global market, down 64% from the previous period. India remains its largest client (48% of exports), followed by China and Belarus (13%).
• Germany – 5.7% of global exports, a 5.4% increase. Main recipients include Ukraine and Egypt.
• China – 5.6% of global arms exports, up 11%. Three-quarters of shipments go to Asia and Oceania, with Pakistan receiving 61% of Chinese exports.
• Italy – 5.1% of global exports, up 157%. Key buyers include Qatar, Kuwait, and Indonesia.
• Israel – 4.4% of the global market, exports rose 56%. Main buyers are India, Germany, and the United States.