The Digester

Europe becomes top arms importer as global deliveries rise nearly 10%, SIPRI says

Mar 10th 2026

A new SIPRI report finds global arms transfers up almost 10% in the last five years, with Europe now the biggest importer and the United States the dominant supplier.

  • Global arms deliveries rose almost 10% in 2021–25 compared with 2016–20, returning to levels last seen in 1989.
  • Europe now accounts for 33% of global arms imports, up from 12% in 2016–20.
  • Asia and Oceania hold 31% of imports and the Middle East 26%, with Middle Eastern imports falling 13% overall in 2021–25.
  • Arms imports by the 29 European NATO members rose 143% in 2021–25, driven in part by Russia’s 2022 invasion and perceived threats.
  • Poland was the largest European NATO importer, increasing imports 852% and making up 17% of NATO Europe imports and 3.6% of global imports.
  • The United States supplied 42% of global arms deliveries in 2021–25 to 99 countries, and Germany became the fourth-largest exporter with a 5.7% market share.

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