Europe's dependence on U.S. arms rose in last five years, says report
The Hindu
NATO countries in Europe increase arms imports, with U.S. leading; SIPRI report highlights growing defense capabilities and tensions.
NATO countries in Europe more than doubled their arms imports in the past five years, more than 60% of which were purchases of U.S. weaponry, researchers on Monday (March 10, 2025).
The findings by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) coincide with an announcement by European Union states that they intend to strengthen the continent's defence capabilities in response to a U.S. foreign policy shift under President Donald Trump.
In the period 2020 to 2024, Ukraine became the world's largest arms importer.
The United States consolidated its position as the world's top weapons exporter -- accounting for 43% of global exports -- far ahead of the second largest, France, which accounted for 9.6%
Over that same period, arms imports by European NATO members rose by 105% compared to the previous five years.
That reflects "the rearmament taking place among states in Europe in response to the threat from Russia", said Mathew George, the head of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
The United States provided 64% of these weapons, compared to 52% in the period from 2015 to 2019.
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