Stockholm, Sweden. European nations more than tripled their arms imports between 2021 and 2025, making Europe the world’s largest arms-importing region, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The United States increased its arms exports to Europe by 217% over the same period.
Europe’s share of global arms imports
European states accounted for 33% of global arms imports, with imports in the region rising by 210% from 2016–2020 to 2021–2025, SIPRI data showed. Following Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom were the largest importers in Europe in the last five years.
Almost half of the weapons delivered to European countries came from the United States (48%), followed by Germany (7.1%) and France (6.2%).
NATO members’ imports and key suppliers
Concerns about threats from Russia, combined with uncertainties regarding the United States’ commitment to defend its European allies, drove up demand for weapons among European NATO member states, SIPRI said.
The arms imports of the 29 current European NATO members increased by 143% from 2016–2020 to 2021–2025. The United States supplied 58% of these imports during this period, with South Korea (8.6%), Israel (7.7%), and France (7.4%) also significant suppliers.
European production and continued reliance on US systems
SIPRI said European companies increased arms production and the EU’s new investment support for member states’ weapons industries led to intra-EU orders. It added that European nations continued to import US-made weapons in 2021–2025, particularly fighter jets and long-range air defence systems, while the largest European suppliers continued to export the majority of their weapons outside Europe.
United States exports and shifting regional destination
The United States supplied 42% of all global arms deliveries between 2021 and 2025, up from 36% in 2016–2020. It exported weapons to 99 countries, including 35 in Europe, 18 in the Americas, 17 in Africa, 17 in Asia and Oceania, and 12 in the Middle East.
For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38%), rather than the Middle East (33%). SIPRI said Saudi Arabia was the largest recipient of US weapons, receiving 12% of US arms exports.
France, Russia, Germany and Italy
France was the second-largest supplier of major arms during 2021–2025, accounting for 9.8% of global arms exports. Its arms exports increased by 21% from 2016–2020 to 2021–2025. France exported arms to 63 countries, with the largest shares going to India (24%), Egypt (11%), and Greece (10%). SIPRI said France’s arms exports within Europe rose more than fivefold (+452%), but nearly 80% of its exports still went outside the region.
Russia was the only top supplier to record a decline in arms exports, down 64%. Its share of global arms exports dropped from 21% in 2016–2020 to 6.8% in 2021–2025. SIPRI said Russia supplied significant arms to 30 countries and one non-state actor during 2021–2025, with 74% of its exports going to India (48%), China (13%), and Belarus (13%).
Germany surpassed China to become the fourth-largest arms exporter in 2021–2025, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports. Nearly a quarter of German arms exports (24%) went to Ukraine as aid, with another 17% directed to other European countries.
Italy’s arms exports grew by 157%, moving from the tenth largest exporter in 2016–2020 to the sixth largest in 2021–2025. Over half of Italy’s arms exports went to the Middle East (59%), with 16% going to Asia and Oceania, and 13% to Europe.
What do you think is driving Europe’s sharp rise in arms imports during 2021–2025?
