US Arms Exports to Europe Triple Amid Ukraine Aid: SIPRI Report

[HaiderAfan]

A new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that U.S. arms exports to Europe have tripled, primarily as a result of military assistance to Ukraine and higher levels of procurement of arms by European states following Russia’s invasion. According to a report of the Security EU which was released to the public on 10 March 2025, U.S. arms and munition shipments to Europe increased by 233% during the 2020-2024 period in comparison to earlier last five-year period of 2015-2020.

Europe Surpasses Middle East as Leading US Arms Purchaser​

Europe, for the first time in two decades, has overtaken the Middle East to become the largest market for U.S. arms exports. Saudi Arabia is still the single largest purchaser of American weaponry, but Europe as a whole now represents 35 percent of total U.S. arms sales. The move reflects how European countries are moving to bolster their military capabilities and readiness given increasing security threats posed by Russia.

“The newly published arms transfers figures demonstrate the real pace of rearmament currently under way among states in Europe in light of the threat from Russia,” Mathew George, program director with SIPRI’s Arms Transfers Programme, said in a statement.

NATO countries have Increased their Imports of Arms​

European NATO members increased their arms imports more than twofold from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024. In the latest period, the U.S. provided 64% of these imports, compared with 52% in the previous five years. France and South Korea were also important suppliers, each accounting for 6.5 percent of NATO Europe’s arms imports.

One of the most significant acquisitions has been combat aircraft. By the end of 2024, U.S. combat jets were ordered from European NATO nations at 472, bolstering their air power with state-of-the-art long-range strike capabilities.

“America remains the supplier of choice for advanced combat aircraft and long-range strike systems,” George noted.

Clean Up Payments to Liberate Sub-Saharan Africa(s)​

As the U.S. cements its role as the world’s top arms exporter, Russia’s arms trade has taken a hit. Russian arms exports fell sharply between 2020 and 2024 for several reasons, SIPRI writes:

Increased Domestic Demand: Russia has focused on providing for its military in the war in Ukraine, leaving fewer weapons available to sell abroad.

Cease-Fire Developments and Humanitarian Agreements: Ongoing conflict drives cease-fire agreements and humanitarian assistance.

Geopolitical Pressure: Purchases of Russian arms have been discouraged by the U.S. and its allies, making sale of arms even harder.

Russia made up just 7.8% of global arms exports during 2020-2024, a plummet from its share of the arms market the previous five years. Its major buyers included India, China and Kazakhstan.

Ukraine Is now the world’s No. 1 Arms Importer​

Ukraine has become the world’s largest weapons importer over the last five years, because of its desperate need for u military supplies in its war with Russia. The U.S. provided 45% of Ukraine’s total arms imports, followed by Germany (12%) and Poland (11%).

Up to 71% of U.S. arms transfers to Ukraine were second-hand weapons removed from existing stockpiles to allow their rapid delivery. This enabled Ukraine to swiftly shore up its arms with tanks, artillery and missile systems.

Arms Market Trends to Watch for in the Future​

According to the SIPRI report, however, the U.S. is likely to remain the leading arms exporter in the world for years to come. As of the end of 2024, the U.S. had an order backlog of 996 combat aircraft, by far the highest of all exporting nations. France was next with 214 aircraft, followed by South Korea with 140 and Russia with only 71.

Warships are also an essential asset in arms exports. The United Kingdom, the seventh largest arms exporter, has 29 major warships on order, 26 for Germany and 22 for France. The numbers reflect a renewed focus on naval capabilities by European countries.

Europe Looks for More Defense Independence​

In spite of the spikes in U.S. arms sales, European NATO members are moving to lessen their dependence on American arms. European NATO countries awarded more than $180 billion in defense contracts between February 2022 and September 2024, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Of that total, 52% went on European systems and 34% on U.S. suppliers.

Pieter Wezeman, an arms expert at SIPRI, said that “an increasingly aggressive Russia and earlier transatlantic tensions, and above all during Donald Trump’s presidency, have made European countries think they should invest domestic arms supplies.”

Global Arms Trade Dynamics​

Outside of Europe, the SIPRI report also identifies major trends in the international flow of weapons.

• France was the world’s second-largest arms exporter in 2020-2024, with a 9.6% share of the market. Major buyers included India, Qatar and Egypt, which were drawn largely by the Rafale fighter jet.
• Russia and France emerged as India’s primary arms suppliers, making India the second-largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia.
• Qatar ranked as the world’s third-largest weapons purchaser, with the United States as its largest supplier.

Conclusion​

The increase in U.S. arms sales to Europe has been driven by changing geopolitical realities, with countries now prioritizing defense spending in the shadow of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine with Russia. Though the U.S. is still the world’s largest arms exporter, European nations are increasingly investing in homegrown defense industries to bolster long-term security and strategic autonomy. Further changes in patterns of international arms trade are likely to occur in the next several years as military alliances and geopolitical rivalries shift.