Ukraine Becomes the World’s Largest Weapons Importer, With Half Coming From the U.S.

Ukraine has become the world’s largest arms importer following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, while the overall demand for weapons in Europe has skyrocketed, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released on March 10.

Between 2020 and 2024, Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports, with nearly half of that supply coming from the United States—even as U.S. President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Kyiv.

The SIPRI data also shows that the U.S. continues to dominate global arms exports, expanding its market share from 35% in 2015-2019 to 43% in 2020-2024. American arms sales now account for roughly the same share of the global market as the next eight largest exporters combined.

Russia’s war against Ukraine further highlighted Europe’s reliance on American weaponry.

In total, European nations accounted for 28% of global arms imports between 2020 and 2024—up from just 11% in the previous five-year period. The U.S. supplied over half of all arms imported by European countries, with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway among the top buyers.

Amid growing security concerns, European leaders recently endorsed plans to increase defense spending after Trump’s shift in U.S. policy cast uncertainty over future military support.

“Given Russia’s increasing aggression and the strained transatlantic relations during Trump’s first presidency, NATO’s European members have taken steps to reduce their dependence on imported weapons and strengthen European defense industries,” said SIPRI senior researcher Pieter Wezeman.

However, despite these efforts, Wezeman noted that transatlantic arms trade ties remain deeply entrenched. European NATO members have increased their arms imports from the U.S., with nearly 500 American-made combat aircraft currently on order.

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War in Ukraine

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While the U.S. has solidified its position as the world’s top arms supplier, Russia’s share of global arms exports has plummeted.

Between 2020 and 2024, Russian arms exports accounted for just 7.8% of the global market—down from 21% in the previous period. The sharp decline is largely due to international sanctions imposed over Moscow’s war against Ukraine, as well as increased domestic demand for weaponry.

Meanwhile, arms imports in Asia and Oceania dropped by 21%, primarily due to China ramping up its domestic arms production.

Despite regional shifts, SIPRI reports that overall global arms transfers between 2020 and 2024 remained at roughly the same level as the previous four years.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia’s arms exports plummeted by 92% from 2021 to 2024, dropping from $14.6 billion to just $1 billion.

The number of countries still purchasing Russian weapons has also shrunk to just 12, a dramatic decline that highlights the Kremlin’s weakening grip on the global defense market.