Ukraine has become the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for 8.8% of global heavy weapon imports, driven by increased military needs due to ongoing Russian aggression. This surge has prompted European countries to boost arms imports by 155% since 2020, with NATO nations heavily reliant on U.S. military technology. Meanwhile, U.S. arms exports dominate the market, while Russian exports have significantly declined amid sanctions and domestic demands. Overall, global arms delivery has slightly decreased, reflecting changes in military dynamics.
Ukraine Emerges as the World’s Largest Arms Importer
In a significant shift in global military dynamics, Ukraine has officially become the largest arms importer in the world, a status revealed in a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Over the past three years of ongoing Russian aggression, Ukrainian military imports have surged nearly a hundredfold compared to the previous decade, marking a dramatic increase in the nation’s defense capabilities amidst escalating conflicts.
Ukraine now constitutes 8.8% of the global total volume of heavy weapon imports, encompassing essential military assets such as tanks, fighter jets, and submarines. Following Ukraine in the arms import rankings are India (8.3%), Qatar (6.8%), Saudi Arabia (6.8%), and Pakistan (4.6%). Interestingly, Germany, despite being the fifth-largest arms exporter globally, ranks only 33rd in terms of arms imports.
Europe’s Military Reinforcement in Response to Threats
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has prompted at least 35 countries to send military aid to support Ukraine, according to SIPRI. Leading the charge, the USA remains the top arms exporter, supplying 45% of military goods, followed by Germany (12%) and Poland (11%). However, the recent unpredictability of US military aid under President Trump has raised concerns among European nations regarding their defense strategies.
As a response to the threats posed by Russia, European arms imports have skyrocketed by 155% between 2020 and 2024, with NATO countries in Europe experiencing a substantial increase of 105%. SIPRI’s program director, Mathew George, noted that these new arms transfer figures are a clear indicator of the rearmament taking place in Europe due to heightened security concerns.
European nations are increasingly reliant on US military technology, with 64% of their arms purchases sourced from the USA during this period, a rise from 52% in the previous five years. Researcher Peter Wezeman highlighted that European NATO members have ordered nearly 500 combat aircraft and air defense systems, which are complex and not easily replaceable, necessitating significant financial and political commitments for any potential shifts in procurement strategies.
Meanwhile, the USA’s dominance in arms exports continues to grow, with France now in the second position, having supplied weapons to 65 countries during the same five-year span. Conversely, Russian arms exports have plummeted to just 7.8% of the global market, a sharp decline from 21% in the previous period. This drop is attributed to increased domestic military needs due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the impact of international trade sanctions, alongside a decreasing reliance on Russian military goods by traditional allies like India and China.
Overall, the global arms delivery volume has seen a slight decline of 0.6%, according to SIPRI’s annual report, which provides a comprehensive overview of arms trends and shifts in global military power dynamics over the past five years.