U.S. Arms Exports Surge as Europe and Ukraine Ramp Up Weapon Imports

New SIPRI report highlights dramatic shifts in global arms trade, with U.S. dominance growing and European nations striving for defense autonomy.

The United States accounted for 43% of global arms exports between 2020 and 2024, a significant increase compared to previous years.
European arms imports rose by 155% during the same period, with two-thirds of these imports coming from the U.S., as nations responded to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Ukraine became the world’s largest arms importer, absorbing 8.8% of global transfers, while also boosting domestic weapons production to meet its defense needs.
Russia’s arms exports fell by 64% over the past five years, driven by sanctions, battlefield demands, and declining orders from key buyers like India and China.
European nations are investing heavily in domestic defense industries, with the EU authorizing €800 billion in joint procurement funds to reduce reliance on U.S. weapons.