Report says Europe has been the largest region for global arms imports in the past five years.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 9 - A report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute on March 9 shows that Europe has become the region with the highest global arms imports over the past five years. This is partly due to multiple European countries increasing arms procurement in response to the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, and partly reflects these countries' lack of confidence in the security guarantees provided by the United States.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the total amount of arms imported by European countries from 2021 to 2025 is expected to increase to about three times that of 2016 to 2020, with the surge in arms flowing into European countries driving a 9.2% increase in global arms transfers. Arms imports by European countries from 2021 to 2025 will account for 33% of the total global arms imports, compared to only 12% from 2016 to 2020.

Matthew George, head of the Arms Transfer Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said: "The military assistance to Ukraine since 2022 is the most significant reason for the increase in arms imports by European countries. In addition, to address the threats posed by the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, most European countries have also begun to significantly increase arms imports to strengthen their military capabilities."

Although European countries have increased domestic arms production, they continue to increase arms procurement from the United States, particularly fighter jets and long-range air defense systems. Over the past five years, arms from the United States accounted for 48% of the arms imported by European countries.

The report shows that the total arms imports of Middle Eastern countries from 2021 to 2025 decreased by 13% compared to 2016 to 2020, but Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait remain major arms importers in the region. Data indicates that more than half of the arms imported by Middle Eastern countries come from the United States; Saudi Arabia accounts for 6.8% of global arms imports, Qatar for 6.4%, and Kuwait for 4.8%.

On February 11, at the third Saudi World Defense Exhibition held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, visitors toured various aircraft in the outdoor exhibition area. Photo by Xinhua reporter Wang Haizhou

According to Reuters, before the military strikes initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28 against Iran, Middle Eastern countries had already procured a large amount of arms, and new orders have not yet been reflected in the data. The ongoing conflict may further drive military purchases, especially missile defense and air defense systems.

Peter Weizmann, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said: "Middle Eastern countries first need to update their existing weapons, and they will also consider procuring more arms to enhance their defensive capabilities."

In terms of arms exports, data shows that the United States is the largest arms exporter in the world from 2021 to 2025, followed by France and Russia. During this period, arms exported by the United States accounted for 42% of the total global arms exports, an increase from 36% in 2016 to 2020. (Bao Xuelin)