SIPRI: Global arms trade shifts as Europe rearms and Russian exports collapse

Europe has more than tripled its arms imports over the last five years, positioning the continent at the vanguard of global military procurement as the United States cements its status as the world’s preeminent weapons supplier. According to the “2025 Trends in International Arms Transfers” report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the 2021–2025 period saw European nations drive a historic surge in demand, effectively reshaping the hierarchy of the global defense trade.

The ranking of the top 10 arms-exporting nations over this five-year period is as follows:

1. United States: Washington maintained its undisputed leadership with a 42% share of global arms exports, supplying 99 nations. Its reach was truly global, providing hardware to 35 countries in Europe, 18 in the Americas, 17 each in Africa and the Asia-Oceania region, and 12 in the Middle East. The primary recipients of US weaponry were Saudi Arabia (12% of total US exports), Ukraine (9.4%), and Japan (8.9%). While overall US arms exports grew by 27% over the period, shipments specifically destined for Europe skyrocketed by 217%.

Peter Wezeman, a senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program, noted that the US has “further solidified its dominance as a weapons supplier, even in an increasingly multipolar world.” Wezeman emphasized that the US provides advanced military capabilities to its clients, while Washington continues to leverage arms exports as a pivotal tool of foreign policy and a primary vehicle for strengthening its national defense industrial base.

France gains momentum as intra-European exports explode

2. France: Reaching a 9.8% share of global supply, France exported weaponry to 63 countries. Its most significant clients were India (24% of French exports), Egypt (11%), and Greece (10%). Notably, French arms exports within Europe surged by 452% during this window.

3. Russia: The only nation among the top 10 to see a decline, Moscow’s exports plummeted by 64% over the five-year period, leaving it with a 6.8% global market share. Of the 30 countries receiving Russian hardware, approximately 74% of total exports were concentrated in just three nations: India (48%), China (13%), and Belarus (13%).

Sergey Chemezov, head of the state-owned Rostec corporation, criticized SIPRI’s methodology regarding defense sector calculations. “We do not publish this data, nor do other countries like China; these are classified. Where do they get them? They just make them up out of thin air,” Chemezov said.

Germany overtakes China while South Korea ascends

4. Germany: With a 5.7% share of the global market, Germany surpassed China during this period. Approximately one-quarter of German arms exports were directed to Ukraine, followed by Egypt (14%) and Israel (10%).

5. China: Holding a 5.6% share of global supply, China funneled the vast majority of its military production to Pakistan (61% of Chinese exports), while Serbia (6.8%) and Thailand (4.7%) remained other primary buyers.

6. Italy: Italian arms exports jumped by 157% between 2021 and 2025, capturing 5.1% of the global market. Italy’s export portfolio is heavily weighted toward the Middle East (59%), followed by Asia and Oceania (16%), and Europe (13%). Its largest buyers were Qatar (26%), Kuwait (17%), and Indonesia (12%).

Israel secures record exports despite Gaza conflict

7. Israel: Capturing a 4.4% share of global supply, Israel overtook the United Kingdom, a position London had held for years. India (29% of Israeli exports), Germany (21%), and the US (7.8%) were the primary recipients.

Zain Hussain, a researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program, observed that “despite the war in Gaza and strikes involving Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen, Israel managed to increase its share of global arms exports.” Hussain pointed out that the Israeli defense industry is primarily focused on air defense systems, for which there is intense global demand.

8. United Kingdom: The UK’s share of global supply stood at 3.4%. Its largest buyers were Qatar (31% of British exports), the US (14%), and Ukraine (13%).

9. South Korea: Accounting for 3% of global arms exports, South Korea directed the bulk of its production to Poland (58% of South Korean shipments), followed by the Philippines (18%) and the United Arab Emirates (9.5%).

10. Spain: With a 2.3% share of the global market, Spain’s primary customers were Saudi Arabia (28% of exports), Türkiye (16%), and Belgium (12%).

Ukraine and Europe occupy lead positions

In the export rankings, Ukraine placed 21st with a 0.3% share of global exports. Its primary buyers were China (64% of Ukrainian exports), India (23%), and Qatar (5.8%).

On the import side, the picture was stark: Europe accounted for 33% of all global arms purchases between 2021 and 2025, representing a 210% increase in imports and making it the leading region for procurement. Following Ukraine, the largest importers were Poland and the UK. Nearly half (48%) of the weapons imported by European states originated in the US, followed by Germany (7.1%) and France (6.2%).

SIPRI researcher Katarina Djokic offered this assessment: “While European companies are ramping up production and the European Union’s new investment support program for the defense industry has spurred some intra-European orders, European states continued to import American weapons during the 2021–2025 period, particularly in the categories of combat aircraft and long-range air defense systems.” In contrast, arms procurement in other regions—Asia and Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa—declined over the last five years.