The volume of international shipments of large weapons systems between states has increased significantly in recent years. According to a new analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) global arms transfers increased by 9.2 percent between 2016-2020 and 2021-2025. The main reason is the dramatic growth in demand in Europe, where arms imports have more than tripled.

For the first time, Europe has become the world's largest region in terms of arms imports. European countries accounted for 33 per cent of total global imports. The significant growth is mainly related to the war in Ukraine.

According to the Director of SIPRI's Arms Transfer Program Mathewa George The increase was mainly driven by shipments to Ukraine, which received 9.7 per cent of all international arms transfers between 2021 and 2025. However, alongside this, other European countries have also significantly increased their purchases as they strengthen their militaries due to the perceived threat from Russia.

The United States has further consolidated its dominant position in the global arms market. Between 2021 and 2025, it supplied 42 per cent of all internationally traded arms, up from 36 per cent in the previous five-year period. Overall, U.S. arms exports increased by 27 percent. Growth in exports to Europe was particularly dramatic, increasing by 217 percent.

The United States has exported arms to 99 countries around the world. For the first time in 20 years, the largest share of U.S. exports went to Europe (38 percent) instead of the traditionally dominant Middle East (33 percent). However, Saudi Arabia remained the largest single buyer of U.S. arms.

France ranked second among the world's arms exporters, accounting for 9.8 per cent of global exports. Its exports increased by 21 per cent between the periods under review. French arms went to 63 countries, with India, Egypt and Greece being the largest buyers.

In contrast, Russia has seen a sharp decline in arms exports. Its exports fell by 64 per cent and its share of the global market dropped from 21 per cent to 6.8 per cent. Nearly three-quarters of Russian shipments went to just three countries - India, China and Belarus.

Germany has moved up to fourth place among the world's arms exporters in 2021-2025, overtaking China. Military aid to Ukraine accounted for a significant portion of German shipments, accounting for 24 percent of German exports.

In Asia and Oceania, by contrast, arms imports fell by 20 per cent. The main reason for this was a dramatic drop in imports in China, which reduced purchases by 72 per cent thanks to the development of its own arms production.

In the Middle East, arms imports fell by 13 per cent. However, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait remain the largest importers in the region.

SIPRI data tracks the volume of arms shipments, not their financial value. The Institute therefore uses five-year periods, which researchers say better capture long-term trends in the global arms trade.

gnews.cz - GH