According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), European arms imports grew by 155% from 2020 to 2024. Ukraine became the world’s largest arms importer after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports in 2020-2024, and just under half of these imports came from the United States, which, under President Donald Trump, has suspended military aid to Kyiv.
SIPRI’s data showed that the United States continues to dominate the global arena. US companies increased their share of global arms exports to 43% in 2020-24 from 35% in 2015-2019. US arms exports accounted for about the same global market share as the next eight countries combined.
The war has underscored Europe’s dependence on US weapons. However, the transatlantic alliance, the foundation of Europe’s security strategy since World War II, is increasingly being questioned.
According to SIPRI, Europe accounted for 28% of global arms imports in 2020-2024, up from 11% in 2015-2019. From 2020 to 2024, the United States supplied more than 50% of arms imports to Europe, with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway being the largest buyers.
In early March, European leaders supported plans to increase defense spending after Trump changed US policy.
“Due to Russia’s growing aggressiveness and the deterioration of transatlantic relations during Trump’s first presidency, European NATO states have taken steps to reduce their dependence on arms imports and strengthen the European military industry,” said Peter Weseman, Senior Fellow at SIPRI’s Arms Trade Program.
However, according to him, the transatlantic arms supply relationship has deep roots. Although imports from the United States have increased, European NATO countries still order nearly 500 combat aircraft and many other weapons from the United States.
Russian arms exports fell to 7.8% of the global market in 2020-2024, down from 21% in the previous four-year period, due to international sanctions over the war against Ukraine and growing domestic demand for arms.
Weapons imports to Asia and Oceania decreased by 21%, mainly due to China’s increased production of its weapons.
According to SIPRI, the volume of global arms transfers in 2020-2024 remained the same as in the previous four years.
