Europe now world's biggest arms importer

Europe became the world's biggest arms importer over the last five years as governments reacted to Russia's threat and waning confidence in U.S. security commitments, data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.



European countries more than trebled their ⁠arms imports in 2021-25 versus 2016-2020 to supply Ukraine in its defence against Russian invasion and to rebuild yheir own militaries after decades of under-investment.



"The sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10 per cent," according to Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.



Europe accounted for 33% of global arms imports, up from 12% in the previous five-year period.



Despite boosting domestic production, European countries continued to increase purchases of U.S. weapons, especially combat aircraft and long-range air-defence systems.