A recent report by independent global think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) highlights that Ukraine, embroiled in its ongoing war with Russia, was the world's largest importer of major arms during 2020-2024. The country’s imports surged nearly 100 times over compared to 2015-2019.
India ranked second in global arms imports during the same period, largely due to security concerns involving China and Pakistan. However, India's arms imports declined by 9.3 per cent between 2015–19 and 2020–24.
"European arms imports overall grew by 155 per cent between the same periods, as states responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the uncertainty over the future of US foreign policy," the report said.
The United States increased its share of global arms exports to 43 per cent, while Russia’s exports fell by 64 per cent, according to new data on international arms transfers published on March 10 by SIPRI.
Since its outbreak in February 2022, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has persisted, prompting diplomatic and humanitarian efforts from multiple parties aimed at securing a lasting peace in the region.
Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major arms in the period 2020–24, with its imports increasing nearly 100 times over compared with 2015–19, SIPRI said in a statement.
The overall volume of arms transfers globally remained at roughly the same level as in 2015–19 and 2010–14 (but was 18 per cent higher than in 2005–2009), as increasing imports in Europe and the Americas were offset by decreases in other regions.
“The top 10 arms exporters in 2020–24 were the same as those in 2015–19, but Russia (accounting for 7.8 per cent of global arms exports) fell to third place behind France (9.6 per cent), while Italy (4.8 per cent) jumped from 10th to sixth place," the statement said.
At least 35 states sent weapons to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and substantial further deliveries are in the pipeline. Ukraine received 8.8 per cent of global arms imports in 2020–24.
"Most of the major arms supplied to Ukraine came from the US (45 per cent), followed by Germany (12 per cent) and Poland (11 per cent). Ukraine was the only European state among the top 10 importers in 2020–24, although many other European states significantly increased their arms imports during the period," SIPRI said.
The report further revealed that Russia delivered major arms to 33 states in 2020–24. Two thirds of Russian arms exports went to three states including India (38 per cent), China (17 per cent) and Kazakhstan (11 per cent).
India received by far the largest share of French arms exports (28 per cent)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15 per cent).
China was the fourth largest exporter of arms in 2020–24, with 5.9 per cent of global arms exports. Despite China’s efforts to increase its arms exports, many large importers do not buy Chinese arms for political reasons, SIPRI stated.
Four states in Asia and Oceania ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2020–24 -- India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia.
China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers' list for the first time since 1990–94, the statement said.
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