According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Swedish arms research institute, US exports to the global arms market have increased by 37% over the past five years.
Rising exports from the United States, France and Germany have been offset by a decline in Russian and Chinese exports.
Arms imports and exports have been high since the end of the Cold War, although the effects of the current epidemic on trade could change.
The Middle East saw the largest increase in arms imports during this period.
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"It would be premature to say whether there has been such a rapid increase in arms transfers over the past two decades," said a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) who compiled the data. The situation is about to end.
"The economic impact of the Code-19 epidemic could force some countries to reconsider their arms imports in the coming years."
"However, at the same time, even in 2020, when the epidemic was at its peak, a few countries signed major arms deals."
Sapri said international arms sales remained stable between 2016 and 2020 compared to the previous five years, meaning its trade volume did not change much.
Nearly half (47%) of US arms exports went to the Middle East, while Saudi Arabia alone accounted for 24% of total US arms exports.
The United States now supplies arms to 96 states, and its exports have grown significantly over the past five years.
France's large arms exports increased by 44%, while Germany's exports increased by 21%.
Both Israel and South Korea have significantly increased their exports, although both are relatively small players in arms exports.
French fighter jet taking off from aircraft carrier.
, Image source GETTY IMAGES
, Photo caption
French fighter jet
Rising arms imports to the Middle East
The Middle East arms import market is the fastest growing, importing 25 percent more weapons than in 2016-20.
The biggest gainers were Saudi Arabia (61%), Egypt (136%) and Qatar (361%).
Asia and Oceania (the sea and coastal region bordering Australia) were the largest importers of large arms, accounting for 42% of global arms sales.
India, Australia, China, South Korea and Pakistan were the largest importers of arms in the region.
Russia-China arms trade declines
Both Russia and China, the world's largest arms suppliers to sub-Saharan Africa, have seen a decline in arms exports.
Arms exports from Russia fell 22 percent, with most of its arms exports going to India, down 53 percent.
"Although Russia has recently signed major arms deals with a number of states and its exports will gradually increase in the coming years, its In arms exports (in most regions) there is stiff competition from the United States.
China, the world's fifth-largest arms exporter, saw its exports fall 7.8 percent.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria have been major buyers of Chinese arms.
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