Germany Overtakes China to Become the World’s fourth Largest Arms Exporter

According to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Germany has overtaken China in the global arms export ranking for the period 2021–2025.

The SIPRI data shows Germany now holds the 4th position with a 5.7% share of the global arms market, narrowly surpassing China at 5.6%.

Top 5 Arms Exporters (2021–2025):

1. United States – 42% of global arms exports
2. France – 9.8%
3. Russia – 6.8% (exports dropped sharply by 64%)
4. Germany – 5.7%
5. China – 5.6%

Together, these five countries accounted for approximately 70% of all major conventional weapons exports worldwide during this period.

Key Reasons Behind Germany’s Rise:

• Strong European demand for German defense systems
• Significant arms deliveries to Ukraine (around 24% of Germany’s total arms exports went to Ukraine)
• Russia’s sharp decline in exports due to the war in Ukraine and international sanctions
• China focusing more on modernizing its own military rather than expanding exports

The United States remains the dominant player, increasing its arms exports by 27% compared to the previous five-year period.

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