The U.S. Dominates Global Arms Trade: How America Supplies 43% of the World’s Weapons
With exports seven times higher than China and five times Russia, the U.S. military-industrial complex fuels global conflicts and profits from soaring demand...
The United States has solidified its position as the world’s leading arms dealer, accounting for a staggering 43% of global weapons exports from 2020 to 2024.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the U.S. exported 7.3 times more weapons than China and 5.5 times more than Russia during this period.
This dominance underscores America’s unparalleled influence over the global arms trade and its role in shaping international conflicts.
While Russia’s arms exports plummeted by 64% and China’s fell by 5.4%, the U.S. saw a 21% increase in weapons sales.
Other countries, including Italy (+138%), Spain (+29%), and France (+11%), also ramped up their exports, but none came close to matching the scale of American dominance.
The Top Players in the Global Arms Trade
The SIPRI report reveals the top 10 arms exporters and importers from 2020 to 2024:
Top 10 Exporters:
1. United States (43%)
2. France (9.6%)
3. Russia (7.8%)
4. China (5.9%)
5. Germany (5.6%)
6. Italy (4.8%)
7. United Kingdom (3.6%)
8. Israel (3.1%)
9. Spain (3.0%)
10. South Korea (2.2%)
Top 10 Importers:
1. Ukraine (8.8%)
2. India (8.3%)
3. Qatar (6.8%)
4. Saudi Arabia (6.8%)
5. Pakistan (4.6%)
6. Japan (3.9%)
7. Australia (3.5%)
8. Egypt (3.3%)
9. United States (3.1%)
10. Kuwait (2.9%)
Europe’s Surge in Military Spending
Europe has emerged as a key market for U.S. weapons, with imports more than doubling from 2020 to 2024. A staggering 64% of these arms came from the United States.
This surge aligns with NATO’s push for increased defense spending among its members.
During his first term, former President Donald Trump pressured European nations to allocate at least 2% of their GDP to military budgets. By 2024, 23 of the 32 NATO members had met this target.
However, in his second term, Trump has raised the stakes, demanding that European nations boost defense spending to 5% of GDP.
This move is widely seen as a strategy to bolster demand for U.S.-made weapons and reduce America’s trade deficit. In March 2024, the European Commission announced a €150 billion loan program to help EU member states purchase military equipment, further fueling the arms race.
The U.S. Military Spending Behemoth
Beyond its role as the top arms exporter, the United States is also the world’s largest military spender.
In 2023, the U.S. accounted for 37% of global military expenditure—more than the next nine countries combined. America spent three times more on its military than China and eight times more than Russia.
This massive spending reflects the U.S. government’s commitment to maintaining its military supremacy and supporting its defense industry. However, it also raises questions about the ethical implications of profiting from global instability and conflict.
The Human Cost of the Arms Trade
While the economic benefits of the arms trade are clear for exporting nations, the human cost is often overlooked.
The proliferation of weapons fuels conflicts, displaces communities, and exacerbates humanitarian crises. As the U.S. continues to dominate the global arms market, it must also grapple with the moral responsibility that comes with being the world’s leading supplier of weapons.
Summary
The United States’ dominance of the global arms trade is a testament to the power of its military-industrial complex.
With exports far surpassing those of China and Russia, and military spending that dwarfs the rest of the world, the U.S. plays a pivotal role in shaping global security dynamics.
However, as demand for weapons continues to rise, particularly in Europe, the world must confront the consequences of this relentless arms race.
The question remains: Is the pursuit of profit and power worth the cost of perpetuating conflict and instability worldwide?
Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2024 - SIPRI:
This is the primary source for the data above. It provides detailed analysis of global arms transfer trends.
URL: https://www.sipri.org/publications/2025/sipri-fact-sheets/trends-international-arms-transfers-2024
US increased its global weapons exports, but will its dominance continue?:
This article gives a good overview of the SIPRI findings… and gives a good summary of the situation.
URL: https://san.com/cc/us-increased-its-global-weapons-exports-but-will-its-dominance-continue/
Ukraine now world's largest arms importer, US dominates global exports: Report - India Today:
This article gives a clear explanation of the information from the SIPRI report, and also gives information about Ukraine's arms imports.
The U.S. Dominates Global Arms Trade as Russia Faces Steep Decline - TBN Israel:
This article gives a good overview of the shift in the global arms trade, with the US increasing its dominance… and Russia's arms exports declining.
URL: https://www.tbnisrael.com/news/the-u.s.-dominates-global-arms-trade-as-russia-fac
US expands global arms dominance as Russian exports decline - Brussels Signal:
This source provides information on the rise of US arms sales to Europe, and the effect of the Ukraine conflict on the global arms trade.
URL: https://brusselssignal.eu/2025/03/us-expands-global-arms-dominance-as-russian-exports-decline/
So conflict equals profit? Kind of like medical injury leads to more medicine! Nice racket.