Rapport SIPRI 2026 : Global Arms Market on the Rise, but Africa Remains a Mystery
UN Photo/Stuart Price
by Cosimo Graziani
Stockholm (Fides Agency) – The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report on the evolution of the arms market for the period 2021-2025 was published on March 9th. This report is one of the most useful tools for understanding the international arms market and analyzing its evolution over the years. This latest edition reflects the changes that have occurred following the wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East, providing a general overview of the deterioration of international relations in recent years.
According to the report, the arms market for the period 2021-2025 increased by 9.2% compared to the previous five years, confirming a rising trend that began during the period 2001-2005.
The continent that saw the highest increase in imports during the period was Europe, where they rose by 210% due to the conflict in Ukraine and the rearmament of European countries. In other regions, the trend was negative: imports decreased by 41% in Africa, 20% in Asia and Oceania, and 13% in the Middle East. Only the Americas saw an increase of 12%.
Looking at different countries, Ukraine was the top global importer with a 9.2% share of the total, while the United States was the top supplier with 42%.
Regarding suppliers, Washington increased its share by over a third in recent years: compared to the 2016-2020 period, its exports increased by 27%. France and Russia followed with 9.8% and 6.8% of exports and variations of 21% and -64% respectively.
Among the top ten exporters, five are European countries: apart from France and Russia, Germany, Italy – with the largest increase in exports by 157% in five years -, the UK, and Spain.
China, Israel, and South Korea were also among the top exporting countries. In recent years, Poland saw the largest increase in exports, growing by 4,387% compared to the 2016-2020 period.
Among importers, besides Ukraine and Poland with an 852% increase in imports, the US, four Asian and Oceania countries, and three Middle Eastern countries were prominent. Some of these countries are involved in conflicts, with increased arms imports signaling regional security deterioration.
Africa was notably absent among both exporters and importers, despite ongoing conflicts in countries like Sudan, the DRC, and the Sahel region.
The issue of the arms market in Africa, highlighted by the report, lies in the secretive nature of agreements between suppliers and importers, making precise estimates impossible. This secrecy surrounds arms deliveries to Algeria, which recently signed a supply agreement with Russia with undisclosed terms, and conflicting parties in the Sudan war.
This secrecy poses challenges for forecasting future arms market trends in Africa, especially where political crises may lead to new conflicts erupting.
(Fides Agency 3/16/2026)
