European arms imports climb, US dominance in exports grows, suppose tank says

U.S. arms exports elevated by 14% from 2013-17, and the U.S. accounted for 40% of worldwide arms exports. Russia’s share fell to 16% from 22%.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 13, 2023 11:35 IST

Patriot air defence system with a view of Warsaw skyscrapers within the background is seen throughout Polish army coaching on the missile techniques on the airport in Warsaw, Poland (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters:

European states elevated their imports of main weaponry by 47% within the 5 years to 2022, whereas the United States’ share of worldwide arms exports rose to 40% from 33%, a number one battle think-tank stated on Monday.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr, following years of rising tensions, has prompted European international locations to hurry to bolster their defences.

“Even as arms transfers have declined globally, those to Europe have risen sharply due to the tensions between Russia and most other European states,” Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), stated in a press release.

SIPRI defines main arms as plane, warships, tanks, artillery, missiles and numerous heavy defence techniques.

European states within the U.S.-led NATO alliance elevated their arms imports by 65% from the earlier five-year interval. But worldwide, worldwide arms transfers fell 5.1%, in accordance with SIPRI.

The United States and Russia have been the world’s largest and second-largest arms exporters for the previous three many years.

U.S. arms exports elevated by 14% from 2013-17, and the U.S. accounted for 40% of worldwide arms exports. Russia’s share fell to 16% from 22%.

“It is likely that the invasion of Ukraine will further limit Russia’s arms exports,” SIPRI’s Siemon T. Wezeman stated. “This is because Russia will prioritize supplying its armed forces and demand from other states will remain low due to trade sanctions on Russia.”

In 2022, SIPRI warned that the worldwide nuclear arsenal was more likely to develop within the coming years.

Published On:

Mar 13, 2023