Ukraine’s emergence as the world’s foremost arms importer from 2020 to 2024, rising from fourth place at the end of 2023, is not unexpected. Its arms imports surged nearly 100 times compared to the previous five years, a period already influenced by the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing conflict in the Donbas region. This information is highlighted in the annual report on military equipment trade released on March 10 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Meanwhile, France has solidified its status as the second-largest arms exporter, accounting for 9.6% of the total, surpassing Russia at 7.8%, yet still trailing significantly behind the United States, which holds 43%.
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Since 2010, the overall volume of imports and exports has remained relatively stable; however, a shift has occurred, particularly from 2020 onwards. The focus of arms trade has increasingly shifted away from Asia-Oceania (-21%) and the Middle East, redirecting more towards Europe and the Americas (including the US, Brazil, and Canada). This change comes as many countries in these regions, particularly Japan, have engaged in significant rearmament efforts in response to various threats, including those posed by China and Iran.
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