Impressive report on global arms trade in the shadow of war: Turkey’s place draws attention

The Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2022 report on global arms exports has been released. According to the report, which reveals the current situation of arms trade in the world, Turkey’s share in world arms exports was 1.1 percent in the last 4 years. Increasing its arms exports by 69 percent in the last 4 years, Turkey ranked 12th in arms exports.

The United States, which owns 40 percent of world arms exports, topped the list. Arms exports from the US, which accounted for the bulk of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia, increased 14 percent from 2018-2022 compared to the previous 4 years.

RUSSIA, CHINA AND GERMANY DECREASE, FRANCE RISES

Russia’s share in second place decreased from 22 to 16 percent. France, which significantly increased its arms exports, ranked third on the list, while China and Germany ranked fourth and fifth.

Qatar (20 percent), the United Arab Emirates (17 percent) and Oman (13 percent) were the countries to which Turkey sold the most weapons, respectively.

Turkey’s share of global arms imports decreased by 49% between the years 2018 and 2022 compared to the previous four years. Turkey ranked 19th on the list of arms-importing countries.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar followed India at the top of the import list.

US ARMS SALES TO TURKEY DECLINED

Meanwhile, it was striking that the US, which has greatly increased its arms sales in the last four years, and especially its arms sales to NATO countries, has reduced its arms sales to the ally of NATO, Turkey.

According to the report, due to political tensions between the two countries in the past 4 years, Turkey fell from 7th to 27th on the list of countries that buy weapons from the US.

It was also noteworthy that there was a large increase in European arms imports due to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. The increase in arms imports from European NATO member countries reached 65 percent in 4 years.