Over the past five years, Russian arms exports have almost halved, with Russia moving to third place in the ranking of global suppliers. However, Ukraine has become the largest importer of weapons in Europe, with an increase reaching a record 6633%.
This was reported byhe Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) website.
According to the report on changes in arms exports during the period from 2019 to 2023 compared to 2014-2018, the United States consistently maintains its leading position, with exports growing by 17% over the last five years. From 2019 to 2023, the United States supplied the majority of military equipment to 107 countries worldwide, exceeding previous periods and the supplies of any other exporter.
Approximately 55% of the arms imported by European states from 2019 to 2023 came from the United States, which is 20% more than from 2014 to 2018.
France ranks second among exporters. The export of weapons from France increased by 47%, and its share in global supplies grew to 11%, compared to 7.2% in 2014-2018. This increase was due to the supply of combat aircraft to Qatar, India, and Egypt.
Russia, on the other hand, ranked third among the world's arms suppliers. From 2019 to 2023, its arms exports decreased by almost half - by 53%. Russia's share in global supplies decreased by 10%.
Over the past five years, Russian military exports have declined sharply. For example, in 2019, Russia supplied weapons to 31 countries, while in 2023, it only supplied to 12. Additionally, from 2019 to 2023, less than two-thirds of Russian exports were accounted for by India (34%), China (21%), and Egypt (7.5%).
Ukraine emerged as the largest European arms importer in 2019–23 and the fourth largest in the world, after at least 30 states supplied major arms as military aid to Ukraine from February 2022.The overall increase in military imports reached a record 6633%. The main suppliers of weapons to Kyiv were the United States (39%), Germany (14%), and Poland (13%).
It is worth noting that the United States and Japan are discussing military defense cooperation to provide assistance to Ukraine. Allies aim to reach specific agreements before the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida scheduled for April 10.
The summit's main topic will be Japan's ability to support the expansion of the US arsenal. Japan has already provided non-lethal and financial assistance to Ukraine, but further lifting of export restrictions could expand opportunities for selling weapons abroad.
