The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted European nations to significantly increase their military spending, with defense budgets rising in response to perceived threats from Russia.

This increase in military spending has resulted in a staggering 105% rise in arms imports among European NATO countries.

European imports of heavy weaponry, including fighter jets, tanks, and submarines, surged by 155% from 2020 to 2024 compared to the previous five-year period, contrasting sharply with a global decline of 0.6%.

In this context, the US remains the dominant player in the global arms market, increasing its exports by 21% during the same period and expanding its market share from 35% to 43%.

Despite the deteriorating transatlantic relationship since Trump's re-election in late 2024, Europe continues to rely heavily on US arms, with 64% of NATO imports sourced from the US.

Ukraine has emerged as the world's largest arms importer, increasing its share of global arms imports from less than 0.1% to 8.8% since 2022, with the US, Germany, and Poland being its primary suppliers.

However, Ukraine's own arms exports have decreased by 72% as it prioritizes its defense needs amid the ongoing conflict.

Experts, including Alexander Lurz from Greenpeace, stress the need for stricter German arms export controls, particularly regarding sales to both democratic and autocratic regimes.

In light of these developments, there are moves within Europe to strengthen its own arms industry in response to the changing geopolitical landscape and strained US relations.

While European countries ramped up their armaments, major importers like Saudi Arabia, India, and China have experienced declines in arms imports for various reasons.

Conversely, Russia's arms exports have fallen by 64%, dropping from 21% to 7.8% of the global market due to sanctions and the need to supply its military for the war against Ukraine.

Germany ranks as the fifth largest arms exporter globally, although its market share has decreased by 2.6% in recent years, with significant arms sales to Middle Eastern countries and Ukraine.