Europe becoming arms powerhouse despite increased imports, says SIPRI

Europe’s imports are mainly driven by Ukraine’s needs, but the EU is surging in arms manufacturing and exports, report finds.

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The Ukraine war has increased Europe’s dependence on arms imports in the past five years, but it may also have helped to turn Europe into a rising arms manufacturer and exporter, new research suggests.

Imports of major arms by European states more than tripled during 2021-25, when the Ukraine war has raged, compared with the previous five-year period of 2016-20, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in its annual Arms Transfers report released on Monday.