Europe tops global arms imports, SIPRI reports

"The sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10%. Most other European states have also started importing significantly more arms to shore up their military capabilities against a perceived growing threat from Russia."

"After declining by around a third after the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the arms trade is now back at roughly the same volume as in 1989."

Global arms trade has surged to Cold War levels, with deliveries rising almost 10% in the past five years compared to the previous period. Europe has become the world's leading arms import region, nearly tripling its share to 33%, surpassing Asia and Oceania (31%) and the Middle East (26%). Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine catalyzed this shift, prompting European nations to significantly increase military purchases to counter perceived Russian threats. The United States remains a major supplier, though Trump administration policies have reduced military aid to Ukraine since 2025. Allied nations including EU states, Australia, and Canada have purchased substantial quantities of heavy weapons to support Ukraine's defense.

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