Global conflict seems to be soaring, but arms exports in recent years have remained flat after a two-decade surge. Cumulative arms exports peaked at $31.8 billion in 2017, representing a 78% jump from $17.8 billion in 2002, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
In 2020, arms transfers worldwide totaled $22.8 billion as per SIPRI’s estimates. This substantial dip from the 2017 peak reflects a multi-year decline accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating economic impact, which has forced governments to curtail defense spending.
America is the World’s Top Exporter of Weapons
The United States is the world’s top exporter of arms — and by a wide margin. In 2020, the United States exported around $9.4 billion in weapons, according to SIPRI — a whopping 40% of all arms exported worldwide that year. The top recipient of U.S. weapons is Saudi Arabia, which purchased over $2 billion in U.S. arms, nearly a quarter of all U.S. arms exports in 2020. Two other Gulf Arab states, Qatar ($300 million) and the United Arab Emirates ($149 million), also rank among the top recipients of U.S. weapons in 2020.
Russia Arms Exports: Down But Not Out
Russia remains the world’s second-largest exporter of arms, accounting for around 20 percent of all arms exports in 2020. But arms transfers from Moscow declined from 2016 to 2020 by approximately 22 percent. U.S. sanctions — especially those imposed through the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA — seem to be working. In fact, a study by RAND argues that several prospective buyers of Russian arms have opted not to go forward with purchases from Moscow due to the “chilling effect of possible sanctions.” Over this period, Indian imports of Russian arms fell by 53 percent, according to SIPRI.
But the decline in Indian imports of Russian arms is only part of the story. Washington has been inconsistent in applying CAATSA. For example, it booted NATO ally Turkey from the F-35 program and sanctioned Ankara after it purchased the S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Moscow. Meanwhile, India has begun to deploy the S-400 and goes unpunished. New Delhi is also acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and frigates from Moscow to bolster its naval defense.
The India-Russia defense partnership remains intact. Russian-origin platforms make up between 60 and 85 percent of India’s major weapons systems.
Russia’s exports of weapons to China and Egypt are also on the rise.
France, South Korea and Turkey Among Rising Second-Tier and Niche Arms Exporters
Despite U.S. and Russian dominance of the global arms trade, the past decade has seen dramatic growth in the rise of second-tier and niche arms exporters, including France — certainly no newcomer to the industry — as well as Spain, South Korea, and Turkey.
For the first time ever, France eclipsed Russia in 2020 as India’s largest source of arms. India, driven by its rivalries with China and Pakistan and growing Hindu nationalism, was the world’s largest importer of arms in 2020. Foreign acquisitions continue to make up around or above 40% of India’s defense acquisitions even after the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature ”Make in India” program in 2014.
From 2010 to 2019, Turkey’s arms exports more than tripled to $240 million, before dropping to $141 million in 2020. Turkey’s drones proved to be game changers in Azerbaijan’s decisive victory in its war in 2020 with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkey has also supplied Ukraine with long-range Bayraktar TB2 combat drones. In February 2022, Ankara agreed to provide additional long-range drones to Kyiv amid growing fears of a Russian invasion.
The World’s Top 20 Arms Exporters
20. Ukraine — $115 million
19. Turkey — $141 million
18. India — $151 million
17. Brazil — $170 million
16. Switzerland — $179 million
15. United Arab Emirates — $191 million
14. Canada — $200 million
13. Sweden — $286 million
12. Israel — $345 million
11. Australia — $396 million
10. United Kingdom — $429 million
9. Netherlands — $488 million
8. China — $760 million
7. Italy — $806 million
6. South Korea — $827 million
5. Spain — $1.201 billion
4. Germany — $1.232 billion
3. France — $1.995 billion
2. Russia — $3.203 billion
1. United States — $9.372 billion
The Globely News team tracks the leaders, states, networks, ideologies, and technologies that are reshaping the world order. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China, we've got you covered.
