“With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europeans began to import more. weaponry and faster”. Researcher Pieter Wezeman, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in the results of its latest report. on his behalf Russiasecond world exporter after United States of Americarestricted their shipments for their own needs.
SIPRI is the most consolidated and reliable international barometer of the world situation. arms industry. His results may not come as a surprise. However, this is a reflection of some of the paradigm shifts that started before the occupation began on February 24, 2022: Countries that felt these “tensions” as a threat to their territory or region began to buy more weapons.
In its global analysis, the SIPRI report envisions a five-year period – 2018 to 2022 – but in the case of Ukraine, it refines the target until it focuses on what happened last year: from the fourteenth position among importing countries in 2022. moved up to third place, second only Train And India.
European purchases doubled
Global arms trade has fallen 5.1% over the past five years, but Europe activated its imports until it recorded an increase of 47% in this period. NATO. According to SIPRI, this is due to “tensions” with Russia. almost double your purchases your weapons. The EU and NATO countries, together with the USA, are the main suppliers of weapons to Ukraine to stop the offensive of the Kremlin troops.
United States of America During this period, it reinforced its dominance in exports: 40% of the world’s total sales correspond to this country, while Russia, which maintains its second place, is currently at the level of 16%. For the following articles France, Chinese and Germany (11%, 5.2% and 4.2% respectively). It is followed by Spain, which ranks sixth with 2.6%.
The correlation of forces between the five largest producer and exporter blocs is also interesting: the United States and Russia have occupied first and second places for decades, but as the gap between them widens, the third country, France, has closed the gap compared to its Russian rival.
With no threat of war on its territory, the US exported 14% more in these five years than in the previous period. The invading country and therefore Russia, which needs domestic materials, decreased its exports by 31%, with China and Egypt being the main buyers.
Risks in Asia
SIPRI assumes that Russia’s exports will continue to be constrained in the coming years due to increased demand from the country itself. In his conclusions, Wezeman states that “Russia will prioritize the supply of its armed forces and that demand from other countries has fallen due to Western sanctions on Moscow.”
Apart from the situation in the European region or the effects of the Russian occupation on Ukraine, in the SIPRI report, “risks” in Asia and the answer to the buyer countries: India is the leading importer, but it is not the only country in its region in this situation. There are six of the world’s major arms buyers in Asia-Oceania: South Korea While there has been a 61 percent increase in arms imports in recent years, Japan it did so 171% of the time. In both cases, the main supplier is the USA. “Perception of threat from the future is increasing” Chinese And North Korea“, explains SIPRI.