Russia Loses Half Of Arms Exports
- 11.03.2024, 8:56
For the first time in the period of observation, the Russian Federation has fallen to third place in this indicator.
Russia's arms exports fell 53 per cent in 2019-2023 compared to the previous five-year period. As a result, the country has fallen to third place in this indicator for the first time ever, says a report by the Stockholm Peace International Research Institute (SPIRI).
According to the results of the five-year, the share of Russian arms on the world market shrank to 11 per cent. Russia was pushed out of second place by France, which increased its exports by 47 per cent and raised its share in world exports to 11 per cent. The first place is still held by the USA, whose exports grew by 17% and whose share in the global arms market reached 42%.
The world's top ten arms exporters also include Italy (up 86%, 4.3% of the world market), South Korea (+12%, 2% of the world market), China (-5.3%, 5.8% world share), Germany (-14%; 5.6%), the UK (-14%; 3.7%), Spain (-3.3%; 2.7%) and Israel (-25%; 2.4%).
According to SPIRI, back in 2019, Russia was supplying major arms to 31 countries, in 2022 - to 14, and in 2023 - only to 12. The largest importers of Russian arms were India (34% of total Russian arms exports), China (21%) and Egypt (7.5%). Middle Eastern and African countries accounted for 13% and 10%, respectively.
In comparison, the US supplied major arms to 107 nations in 2019-2023, more than in all previous periods. Middle Eastern countries accounted for 38 per cent of US deliveries, Asia and Oceania 31 per cent, and Europe 28 per cent.
France supplied arms to 64 countries during this period. The largest share of exports (42%) went to Asia and Oceania, and 34% to the Middle East. Among the countries, the largest recipient of French arms was Russia's main client India (almost 30% of all French exports). SPIRI experts note that the growth of French exports was mainly due to deliveries of combat planes to India, Qatar and Egypt.
At the same time, arms deliveries to Europe grew by 94 per cent in 2019-2023. Ukraine has become the region's largest importer and fourth worldwide. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv has received arms aid from at least 30 nations. The country's share in global arms imports was 4.9 per cent against 0.1 per cent in 2014-2018.