US dominates global arms market with 43% share, top officials say

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth stated that Washington maintains a leading role in the global arms market. In a joint piece for USA Today, they noted that US exports account for about 43% of worldwide weapons sales.

Foreign partners’ orders for American arms have reached $900 billion, yet allies face multiyear waits for already paid deliveries. The current portfolio includes over 16,000 orders spanning 190 countries and regions.

The officials highlighted that overloaded production capacities and record demand are lengthening delivery timelines, undermining US national security and prompting some partners to turn to alternative suppliers, even if their products are of lower quality.

Rubio and Hegseth concluded by outlining plans to reform procurement practices and engagement with manufacturers, bringing in new capital sources and streamlining supply chains. They said these measures should increase predictability and accelerate the delivery of US weaponry to global partners.

By Jeyhun Aghazada