Status: 03/14/2022 01:10 a.m
Even if the global arms trade has recently declined slightly, arms are being rearmed dangerously in many regions of the world, especially in Europe. This emerges from data from the peace research institute Sipri.
The global arms trade has recently declined somewhat, but overall remains at a very high level. The volume of trade fell by 4.6 percent in the period from 2017 to 2021 compared to the five years before, according to the peace research institute Sipri in Stockholm. However, compared to the years 2007 to 2011, this is an increase of 3.9 percent.
Significant increase in imports to Europe
Even before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Stockholm peace researchers observed a trend towards increasing arms imports to Europe. According to this, imports there rose by 19 percent between 2017 and 2021 compared to the five years before – that was the highest increase worldwide on average. They accounted for 13 percent of global arms transfers. The massive deterioration in relations between most European countries and Russia was at least in part a driver for the arms purchases, the report said.
USA exports more, Germany less
The US and France increased their arms exports significantly, while China, Russia and Germany sold fewer arms abroad. Nevertheless, the three countries are still among the world’s largest arms exporters. With a world market share of 39 percent, the USA remains the clear leader.
Between 2017 and 2021, US defense exports grew 14 percent compared to the previous five-year period. Meanwhile, German exports fell by 19 percent. With a world market share of 4.5 percent, Germany still occupies fifth place behind the USA, Russia, France and China.
According to Sipri, the “Top 5” account for 77 percent of all global arms deliveries over the past five years. The main buyers were Asia-Oceania (with a global share of 43 percent), the countries of the Middle East (32 percent) and Europe (13 percent). The top five arms importers were India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia and China.
Few imports to Ukraine
According to the Sipri report, arms imports into Ukraine had been comparatively low until last year. From 2017 to 2021, the share accounted for only 0.1 percent of total global arms imports. Arms deliveries to Ukraine had “more of a political than a military significance” during this period. According to Sipri, Turkey’s delivery of twelve armed drones probably had the greatest military impact during the period.
While Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea almost without resistance in 2014, Ukraine has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country ever since. The Ukrainian army used weapons that mainly date from the Soviet era.
Low financial resources, high in-house production
According to Sipri, the low level of arms transfers to Ukraine in 2017-2021 is partly explained by Kiev’s limited financial resources and the fact that the former Soviet republic has its own arms production capabilities and a large arsenal of important weapons.
In addition, by February 2022, several of the largest arms exporters had restricted their supplies to Ukraine, fearing such transfers would contribute to the escalation of the conflict. At the latest since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, however, this has changed. Since then, several countries have been supporting Kyiv with arms deliveries.
Sipri expects higher spending on armaments
The peace researchers assume that European countries will significantly increase their arms imports in the next ten years. Recently there have been extensive orders for large arms, especially for US fighter jets.