Stockholm International Peace Research Institute: Global arms trade is growing, Saudi Arabia is the largest importer

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute: Global arms trade is growing, Saudi Arabia is the largest importer

 

One of the major exporters between the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. Washington remains the world leader in sales. 52% of American weapons enter the Middle East. Riyadh increased arms imports by 192%. Egypt ranked third with a growth rate of 206%. Arms imports to Syria have decreased by 87%.

Beirut (AsiaNews)-According to the latest data released, the international trade in heavy weapons in the five-year period from 2014 to 18 exceeded 7.8% from 2009 to 2013, while it exceeded 23% from 2004 to 2008. Today is Spiri (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).

The global arms trade research ranks five major exporters: the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. All in all, the value of these five countries accounted for about 75% of the total arms exports over the past five years. Between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018, the flow of weapons in the Middle East increased, while the flow of weapons in all other regions of the world decreased.

Over the past 10 years, US arms exports have increased by 29%, while the total US privileges have increased from 30% to 36%. At the same time, the distance between the two major exporting countries has become wider: Washington recorded a 75% higher number of heavy weapons than Russia between 2014 and 2018; during 2009-2013, the margin was "only" 12%.

Most of the weapons sold by the United States in the past five years (52%) have flowed to a country in the Middle East (probably Saudi Arabia, but the report did not mention it). The United States has further consolidated its position as the world ’s leading weapon supplier. Dr. Aude Fleurant, Director of SIPRI ’s Arms and Military Expenditure Program, said: “In the past five years, the United States has exported arms to at least 98 countries; these deliveries It usually includes advanced weapons such as fighter jets, short-range cruise and ballistic missiles, and a large number of guided bombs. "

On the other hand, Russia ’s arms exports have decreased by 17%, especially considering the reduced demand from India and Venezuela. France ’s export growth (export growth 43%) and Germany (growth 13%). The overall number of arms exports to European Union (EU) countries is 27% of global trade between 2014 and 2018.

The fifth largest exporter in the world is China, but of course significant changes have taken place. If exports increased by 195% between August 2004 and March 2009, then in the past five years, the increase from 2009-13 to 2014 to 2018 was only 2.7%. In contrast, Israel (+ 60%), South Korea (+ 94%) and Turkey + 170% increased the "substantial" growth.

Between 2009 and 13 and 2014 and 18, the Middle East ’s arms imports increased by 87%, accounting for 35% of global imports over the past five years. Saudi Arabia has become the world's largest importer, with a growth rate of 192%. The volume of arms imports from Egypt, the third largest in the world, has tripled (+ 206%). Arms imports from Israel (354%), Qatar (225%) and Iraq (139%) have also increased. Finally, arms imports from Syria have decreased by 87%.