SIPRI lists the biggest arms exporter in 2023, and Turkiye is listed as the 11th biggest arms exporter. In a report published on March 11, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States, the world’s largest arms supplier, rose by 17 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, while those by Russia fell by more than half (–53 per cent). France’s arms exports grew by 47 per cent, moving just ahead of Russia to become the world’s second-largest arms supplier. It is assumed that France’s new position is related to Russia losing ground. With a considerable increase in the volume of equipment sold abroad, the French defence industry has relegated Russia to third place against a backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the redefinition of diplomatic relations. SIPRI identified 66 states as major arms exporters in 2019–23. The five largest arms exporters during that period—the U.S., France, Russia, China and Germany—accounted for 75 per cent of all arms exports. U.S. and French arms exports rose between 2014–18 and 2019–23, while Russian, Chinese and German exports fell. The U.S. and states in Western Europe together accounted for 72 per cent of all arms exports in 2019–23, compared with 62 per cent in 2014–18. The U.S.’s arms exports grew by 17 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, and its share of total global arms exports rose from 34 to 42 per cent. The U.S. delivered major arms to 107 states in 2019–23, more than the next two biggest exporters combined. The volume of arms exported by the U.S. in 2019–23 was 282 per cent higher than that of France, the second biggest arms exporter globally. France narrowly overtook Russia to become the world’s second-largest exporter of major arms in 2019–23. French arms exports represented 11 per cent of all arms transfers in this period, having increased by 47 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23. France has been trying to expand its arms sales to other European states for many years; however, its exports in 2019–23 accounted for only 9.1 per cent of its total arms exports. More than half of its European arms exports (53 per cent) went to Greece, mostly made up of transfers of 17 Rafale combat aircraft.
When it comes to UAVs and Africa, Turkish presence appears. Sub-Saharan Africa receives major arms from diverse suppliers vying to build up influence in the subregion. With a 19 per cent share of subregional arms imports, China narrowly overtook Russia, which had a 17 per cent share, to become the largest supplier of major arms to sub-Saharan Africa in 2019–23. France was the third largest supplier to sub-Saharan Africa in 2019–23 and had an 11 per cent share of subregional arms imports. Türkiye was the fourth largest supplier, with a share of 6.3 per cent, mostly due to its deliveries of combat helicopters to Nigeria and trainer/combat aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to several states.
The report indicates an arms race in the Pacific Ocean as Japan and the Republic of Korea are expanding their military capabilities, mainly because of tensions with China and North Korea. Japan (+155 per cent) and ROK (+6.5 per cent) increased their arms imports between 2014–18 and 2019–23.
