Ukraine has become the largest importer of weapons globally, according to experts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Between 2020 and 2024, the country’s arms purchases skyrocketed by approximately 100 times compared to the previous five-year period. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received weapons from at least 35 countries, with the United States being the largest contributor.
Over the past five years, the United States has notably increased its arms exports, boosting its share of the global market from 35% to 43%. This figure is nearly as much as the combined total of the next eight largest arms exporters. France ranks second with 9.6%, followed by Russia at 7.8%.
According to SIPRI’s report, Russian arms exports have plummeted by 64% over the past five years, largely due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. While India remains the top Asian importer of Russian weapons, Russia is no longer the sole supplier. Between 2020 and 2024, Russia supplied 36% of India’s arms, while France contributed 33%.
European arms imports have surged by 155% over the past five years, as EU nations have ramped up purchases to both support Ukraine and bolster their own defense capabilities, amid concerns that the United States is becoming an increasingly unreliable ally.
