India second-largest arms importer; the US supplied 42% of total global arms sales in 2021-25: SIPRI

The US, now engaged in a war with Iran along with Israel, supplied 42% of all international arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36% in 2016–20. India was the world’s second-largest arms importer, though imports decreased marginally (–4.0%) between 2016–20 and 2021–25, says the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database is the only public resource that provides consistent information on all international transfers of major arms (including sales, gifts and production under licence) between states, international organisations, and non-state groups since 1950.

Russia is still India's biggest partner

The data said the largest share of Indian arms imports came from Russia, at 40%—a significantly smaller share than in 2016–20 (51%) and almost half that in 2011–15 (70%). This is mainly due to India's increasing focus in the past 10 years on 'Make in India' defence products. India is increasingly turning to western suppliers. Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 66% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China supplied 80% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2021–25, up from 73% in 2016–20.

Russia was the only top 10 supplier to see its arms exports fall (–64%). Its share of global arms exports shrank from 21% in 2016–20 to 6.8% in 2021–25. Russia supplied major arms to 30 states and one non-state actor in 2021–25. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Russian arms exports went to India (48%), China (13%) and Belarus (13%).

US arms most of the world

The US exported arms to 99 states in 2021–25, including 35 states in Europe, 18 in the Americas, 17 in Africa, 17 in Asia and Oceania and 12 in the Middle East. For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38%) rather than the Middle East (33%). Nevertheless, the top single recipient of US arms was Saudi Arabia (12% of US arms exports).

The volume of major arms transferred between states increased by 9.2% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. States in Europe more than tripled their arms imports, making it the biggest recipient region. Total exports by the US, the world’s largest supplier of arms, increased by 27%. This included a 217% increase in US arms exports to Europe. ‘While tensions and conflicts in Asia and Oceania and the Middle East continue to drive large-scale arms imports, the sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10%,’ said Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

European states received 33% of global arms imports, with the region’s imports increasing by 210 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. After Ukraine, Poland and the UK were the biggest importers in Europe in the past five years. Almost half of the arms transferred to European states came from the US (48%).

France was the second largest supplier of major arms in 2021–25, accounting for 9.8% of global exports. Its arms exports increased by 21% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. France exported to 63 states, with the largest shares going to India (24%), Egypt (11%) and Greece (10%).

Israel, the seventh largest arms supplier, increased its share of global arms exports from 3.1% in 2016–20 to 4.4% in 2021–25, and for the first time ever overtook the UK (3.4%).

Middle East arms imports fall

Arms imports by states in the Middle East shrank by 13% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. Three of the world’s top 10 arms importers in 2021–25 were in the region: Saudi Arabia (6.8% of global imports), Qatar (6.4%) and Kuwait (2.8%). More than half of arms imports to the Middle East came from the US (54%), while 12% came from Italy, 11% from France and 7.3% from Germany.

‘Gulf Arab states shape arms import trends in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia having been the region’s largest importer since 2011–15 and Qatar now its second largest after more than doubling its imports between 2016–20 and 2021–25,’ said Zain Hussain. ‘With a number of regional tensions and conflicts, Gulf Arab states are working to strengthen relations with long-standing suppliers like the US and France while also seeking new suppliers.’

Israel was the world’s 14th largest arms importer in 2021–25, with its imports rising by 12% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. In 2021–25 the US supplied the largest share of Israel’s arms imports (68 %), followed by Germany (31%). Throughout the multi-front war stemming from Israel’s large-scale military offensive in Gaza beginning in October 2023, Israel continued to receive arms from various suppliers, including F-35 combat aircraft, guided bombs and missiles from the US.