Russian Arms Exports Show Sharp Decline SIPRI

RunWithRugs · 2026-03-11T20:24:38+00:00

The SIPRI report highlights that the U.S., France, Russia, Germany, and China dominate global arms exports, accounting for 70%. The U.S. leads with 42%, with a notable increase in exports to Europe. Russia's exports have significantly dropped, while Ukraine has become the largest importer of weapons.

RunWithRugs

2026-03-11 20:24:38

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(MENAFN- UkrinForm) According to Ukrinform, SIPRI stated this in a report.

The report notes that the five largest suppliers during this period – the United States, France, Russia, Germany, and China – accounted for 70% of all arms exports.

In 2021–2025, the United States accounted for 42% of all international arms transfers, compared with 36% in 2016–2020. During 2021–2025, the U.S. exported weapons to 99 countries.

At the same time, for the first time in two decades the largest share of U.S. arms exports went to Europe (38%) rather than the Middle East (33%). However, Saudi Arabia remained the largest recipient of U.S. weapons, accounting for 12% of total U.S. arms exports. Ukraine ranked second with a 9.4% share.

Russia ranked third and was the only one among the top 10 suppliers whose arms exports decreased, falling by 64%.

Overall, Russia’s share of the global arms export market dropped from 21% in 2016–2020 to 6.8% in 2021–2025. During 2021–2025, Moscow supplied major weapons systems to 30 states and one non-state actor.

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Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Russia’s arms exports in 2021–2025 went to three countries: India (48%), China (13%), Belarus (13%).

The report also notes that Germany surpassed China to become the fourth-largest arms exporter in 2021–2025, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports. Nearly a quarter of Germany’s total arms exports (24%) went to Ukraine as assistance, while another 17% went to other European countries.

As previously reported, Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major weapons in the period 2020–2024, increasing its imports almost 100-fold compared with 2015–2019, while Russia’s exports fell by 64%.

Illustrative photo: ** Pexels**

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