According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Germany has reached fourth place in global arms exports. At the same time, despite successes in the defense industry, other sectors of the country's economy continue to face difficulties.
On Monday, SIPRI announced that Germany has surpassed China on this list. The institute, founded in 1966 at the initiative of the Swedish parliament and largely funded by the government, noted that the United States ranks first among arms exporters, followed by France and Russia.
The shift of China to fifth place is associated with a sharp increase in demand for arms in Europe amid the conflict in Ukraine. The report states that nearly 24% of German arms exports were directed to support Ukraine, while 17% went to other European countries, including NATO member states.
Nevertheless, China's export figures remain stable. Compared to the previous five-year period (2016-2021), the volume of Chinese exports increased by 11%, indicating the country's growing independence in defense production. China is increasingly relying on its own production and actively exporting its arms, for example, to Pakistan.
Now, sitting in fifth place, China is focusing on meeting domestic needs and strengthening its military potential, as shown by a new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (source in German).
Despite successes in the defense sector, which is experiencing a boom due to record orders and active sales, the overall economic situation in Germany in March 2026 remains weak, with GDP growth expected to be only 0.9-1.2% this year.
Arms imports in Europe have tripled
According to SIPRI data, global arms supplies increased by 9.2% from 2016 to 2020 and from 2021 to 2025. Meanwhile, European countries have tripled their volumes of arms imports.
As noted by Matthew George, director of SIPRI, "tensions and conflicts in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East continue to contribute to a high level of arms imports, and the sharp increase in supplies to Europe has also contributed to a nearly 10% increase in global supply volumes."
From 2021 to 2025, the United States accounted for 42% of all international arms supplies, exporting arms to 99 countries. In comparison, from 2016 to 2020, this figure was 36%. Thus, the United States continues to strengthen its position as the leading supplier of military products.
Among the 99 importing countries, there are 35 from Europe, 18 from the Americas, 17 from Africa, 17 from Asia and Oceania, and 12 from the Middle East.
Peter Wezeman, senior researcher in the SIPRI Arms Transfers program, noted: "The United States has significantly strengthened its dominance as a weapons supplier, even amid the development of a multipolar world."
Source: euronews.com
