Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 15. Mars 2021 / Time Line March 15, 2021
Version 3.503/15/2021
International arms transfers level off after years of sharp growth; Middle Eastern arms imports grow most,
says SIPRI
(Stockholm, 15 March 2021) International transfers of major arms stayed at the same level between 2011–
15 and 2016–20. Substantial increases in transfers by three of the top five arms exporters—the USA,
France and Germany—were largely offset by declining Russian and Chinese arms exports. Middle Eastern
arms imports grew by 25 per cent in the period, driven chiefly by Saudi Arabia (+61 per cent), Egypt (+136
per cent) and Qatar (+361 per cent), according to new data on global arms transfers published today by the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
For the first time since 2001–2005, the volume of deliveries of major arms between countries did not
increase between 2011–15 and 2016–20. However, international arms transfers remain close to the highest
level since the end of the cold war.
‘It is too early to say whether the period of rapid growth in arms transfers of the past two decades is over,’
said Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘For
example, the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic could see some countries reassessing their arms
imports in the coming years. However, at the same time, even at the height of the pandemic in 2020, several
countries signed large contracts for major arms.’
 |
 |