Russia falls to third place in arms exports for the first time – SIPRI

Russia has fallen to third place in the ranking of the largest arms exporters, giving second place to France. The largest exporter is still the United States, while Ukraine has become the largest importer of weapons in Europe and the fourth largest in the world.

This is stated in a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). According to the study, from 2019 to 2023, arms exports from the Russian Federation fell by 53% compared to the period of 2014-2018.

According to analysts, in 2019, Moscow exported major types of weapons to 31 countries, and in 2023 – to only 12 countries.

Arms exports by the United States, the largest exporter, have grown by 17% over the past five years, and its share of total world exports has increased from 34% to 42%. The United States supplied major weapons to 107 countries in the period 2019-2023, more than in any other five-year period and far more than any other arms exporter.

"The United States has strengthened its global role as an arms supplier, exporting more weapons to more countries than ever before, and this is an important aspect of its foreign policy. This comes at a time when U.S. economic and geopolitical dominance is being challenged by developing countries," said Matthew George, director of SIPRI's Arms Transfers Program.

In turn, arms exports from France increased by 47% between 2019 and 2023 compared to the previous five-year period.

The largest share of France's exports (42%) went to Asia and Oceania, and another 34% to the Middle East. India became the largest importer, accounting for 30%.

"For the first time, France has become the second largest arms exporter, ahead of Russia," the report says, noting that Russia has taken third place for the first time.

Over the past five years, the United States and Western Europe have accounted for 72% of all arms exports, while in 2014-2018, it was 62%.

The SIPRI report also states that Ukraine became Europe's largest arms importer in 2019-2023 and the fourth largest in the world. This happened after at least 30 countries have provided Kyiv with major weapons as military aid since February 2022.

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