Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major arms in the period 2020–24, with its imports increasing nearly 100 times over compared with 2015–19.
In fiscal year 2024, U.S. military equipment sales to foreign governments surged to a record $318.7 billion, marking a 29% increase from the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has announced that the country’s defence export contracts in 2024 have reached an impressive EUR 18 billion.
A report published last weekend by the German Economy Ministry showed that Germany’s arms exports have surged in the first half of 2024, reaching EUR 7.48 billion.
As a result of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian arms exports have decreased by more than half, due to both prioritising supplies for their own military needs and a decline in demand from foreign buyers.
The U.S. State Department announced that sales of U.S. military equipment to foreign governments soared to a record USD 238 billion in 2023.
The German government announced a record high in defence industry exports for 2023, totaling EUR 11.7 billion as of mid-December.
South Korea’s arms exports in 2023 have seen a decrease from the previous year’s record high, yet the number of importing countries has tripled, driven by robust demand for advanced Korean weaponry.
In 2022, France achieved a record value of arms export orders, reaching EUR 26.97 billion.
Germany’s coalition government has approved new arms export deals to Saudi Arabia, media reported on Thursday.Â
