The recent report titled “Trends in International Arms Transfers 2024,” issued last week by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), reveals that the US and its NATO allies dominate more than 80% of global arms exports, fueling ongoing wars and conflicts worldwide.

Profiting greatly from the fighting in Ukraine, the US expanded its total share in global weapons exports to 43% for the years between 2020 and 2024. The US is so prevalent in global arms exports that it surpasses the combined share of the next highest eight arms exporting nations.

Among all arms-exporting countries, the US has a presence in all regions of the world. There are 107 countries in which it supplies arms around the world. During the 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 periods, arms exports rose by more than 21%, even as global arms transfers experienced a slight decline.

There are other beneficiaries besides the US in global conflicts. Its partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are also gaining greatly. Three NATO members, the US, France (9.6%), and Germany (5.6%), appear in the top five arms exporters list, while six NATO countries are included in the top 10.

Among the top ten exporters globally, NATO nations accounted for more than 70% of total arms sales between 2020 and 2024. Including South Korea (2.2%) and Israel (3.1%), the US’s nearest non-NATO allies, raises their total share to over 75%.

Several NATO nations, notably Turkey (1.7%) and the Netherlands (1.2%), hold a significant portion of global arms exports. Together, they contribute to over 75% of the total global arms trade. This marks an unprecedented dominance of NATO countries in the arms market.

Twelve NATO member countries are listed among the top 20 arms exporters. Additionally, four US allies—Israel, South Korea, Australia, and Ukraine—complete the top 20, raising the total number of US allies in this group to 16. The only non-NATO allies among the top 20 arms exporters globally are Russia (7.8%), China (5.9%), and Iran (0.4%). 

Effects of the Ukraine War on the Arms Trade

In the period between 2015-19 and 2020-24, Russia, which held a share of over 22% in the global arms trade before the war in Ukraine, during the period 2015-19 to 2020-24, Russia’s share of the global arms trade decreased by more than half, placing it in third place behind France. Russian exports have fallen significantly since the US and its European allies imposed numerous sanctions following the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Russia’s own need for weapons also plays a major role in the decline in exports.

During the war with Russia, Ukraine became the largest importer of weapons. Only 9% of the world’s weapons were exported to it in 2024. The US supplied 45% of all weapons imported by Ukraine, while other NATO members covered the rest of the delivery.

With over 155% growth in arms imports in 2020-24, Europe became the second-largest arms-importing region, bypassing the Middle East. Recent changes to US foreign policy related to defense commitments to European NATO allies have increased Europe’s arms imports.

During the first Donald Trump administration, NATO allies in Europe were repeatedly asked to increase their defense expenditures in order to reduce their dependence on the US. A similar threat is made to Europeans in its second term, calling on NATO partners to increase military spending to 5%.

The biggest arms buyers, however, remain in Asia and Oceania despite a steep decline in their overall imports. SIPRI reports that the region’s portion of global arms imports decreased from 41% during 2015-19 to 33% in 2020-24, with China experiencing the most significant drop in imports. As a result, China has exited the top ten importing countries for the first time since 1990-94.

In terms of arms imports, India remained the second-largest country in the world. In the 2020-24 period, Japan’s arms imports increased dramatically, increasing its overall share of global arms imports to 3.9%.

Among the top three arms-importing regions, the Middle East accounted for nearly 27%. Nevertheless, there has been a decline of over 20% in comparison to the 2015-19 period. Four countries from the region are represented in the top ten list. Qatar ranked as the world’s third largest arms importer, holding nearly 7% of the market share. Following Qatar are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait.