Europe imports almost twice as many weapons as Ukraine: study

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), arms imports to Europe increased by 94% from 2019 to 2023 compared to the previous five years, while global arms transfers decreased slightly. .

SIPRI prefers to analyze trends over a five-year period, as annual figures can be tilted by a few major contract deliveries.

SIPRI researcher Katarina Djokic told AFP that the increase was “partly explained by the war in Ukraine, which has made Ukraine the fourth-largest arms importer in the world in the past five years.”

SIPRI noted that at least 30 countries have supplied major weapons as military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

But other European countries are also increasing imports, with a larger share coming from the United States, the world’s largest arms exporter.

In the period 2019-2023, 55% of imports into Europe came from the United States, up from 35% in the period 2014-2018.

This is partly because most countries in Europe are NATO members and partners with the United States in developing weapons systems like the F-35 fighter jet, Jokic said.

At the same time, the increase in imports from the United States emphasized the desire of many European countries to quickly obtain weapons and therefore buy “off the shelf” rather than develop new systems.

Globally, U.S. exports increased by 17 percent during this period, accounting for 42 percent of total arms exports.

Meanwhile, Russia, which has long held the position of second-largest exporter, saw its exports decline by 53% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023.

Russia has not only reduced the volume of arms exports, but also the number of countries to which it exports.

In 2019, it was exported to 31 countries, but in 2023 it was exported to only 12 countries.

“There are also important changes in policy in China, our biggest customer,” Jokic said.

China has traditionally been one of the largest recipients of Russian weapons, but is pushing to develop domestic production.

China still accounts for 21% of Russia’s exports, with India the largest destination at 34%.

While Russia’s exports declined, France’s own exports increased by 47%, narrowly overtaking Russia to become the world’s second-largest exporter.

France accounted for 11% of total arms exports between 2019 and 2023.

In particular, Jokic noted that France has been particularly successful in selling Rafale fighter jets outside of Europe.

The war in Gaza, which began in retaliation for Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, has already affected arms imports into Israel.

According to SIPRI researcher Zain Hussein, this is mainly due to arms transfers from the United States, either through new military aid or the acceleration of existing contracts.

Hussein warned that the long-term effects of the conflict are even harder to predict.

Hussein said: “In some European countries, various actors and states have moved to restrict arms to Israel during (military) operations in Gaza due to possible violations of international humanitarian law.” “We’re already seeing the pressure being put on,” he said.

Such measures could affect transfers to Israel.

Hussein explained that even after Israel’s current ground and air offensive on Gaza ends, the question remains whether it will remain in place.

Jul/Gil