U.S. leads global arms exports, Russia's decline continues

The United States has maintained its position as the world's largest arms exporter from 2020 to 2024. It supplied weapons to 107 countries and made up 43 percent of global arms exports during this time. This is an increase from 35 percent in the previous five years, from 2015 to 2019. France ranked second in arms exports, accounting for 9.6 percent of the market. This reflects a rise from 8.6 percent in the earlier period. These statistics come from a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Russia, the third-largest arms exporter, has experienced a significant decline in its exports. Its share dropped from 21 percent between 2015 and 2019 to just 7.8 percent from 2020 to 2024. Factors contributing to this decline include reduced demand from China and India, who are increasing their own arms production. Additionally, trade sanctions and pressure from the U.S. and allies have impacted Russia's arms sales. In this timeframe, India was the top destination for Russian weapons, receiving 38 percent of total exports. Other major buyers included China and Kazakhstan. While the U.S., France, and Italy saw growth in their arms exports, countries like Russia, China, and Germany have reported decreases. The five largest importers of arms from 2020 to 2024 were Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.