Europe and some Asian countries record steep rise in arms import

By Vatican News

Despite mounting conflicts and tensions in Europe, Asia, and beyond, the global volume of the international arms trade contracted slightly by 3.3 percent between 2019 and 2023 compared to the preceding five years, according to a report released on Monday.  

However, during the same period, major arms imports increased significantly in European countries and in several nations in the Asia and Oceania region, according to the 2024 Yearbook of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent international institute based in Sweden dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. 

Europe nearly doubling imports of major arms 

The report provides an overview of developments in international security, weapons and technology, military expenditure, arms production and the arms trade, armed conflicts and conflict management, along with efforts to control conventional, nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.  

According to SIPRI’s latest findings, Europe almost doubled its imports of major arms (+94 percent) between 2014–18 and 2019–23.  Ukraine emerged as the largest European arms importer in 2019–23 and the fourth largest in the world, after at least 30 states supplied major arms as military aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Largest share of arms transfers to Asia

Some 37 percent of transfers of major arms in 2019–23 went to states in Asia and Oceania, the largest share of any region but a slight decrease from 41 percent in 2014–18.

Despite an overall 12 percent decline in arms imports for the region, imports by several states increased significantly, namely in Japan and South Korea, reflecting growing tensions in that region.

Arms imports in Japan increased by 155 percent and South Korea’s by 6.5 percent.

In the same period of time, the United States has increased its global role as an arms supplier, exporting more arms to more countries than it has ever done in the past.

Arms exports grew by 17 percent between 2014–18 and 2019–23, and its share of total global arms exports rose from 34 percent to 42 percent. Around 55 percent of arms imports by European states in 2019–23 were supplied by the United States, up from 35 percent in 2014–18.

France’s arms exports also increased significantly between 2014–18 and 2019–23 (47 percent), and for the first time, it was the second biggest arms exporter, just ahead of Russia.

The largest share of France’s arms exports (42 percent) went to states in Asia and Oceania, and another 34 percent went to Middle Eastern states.

Pope Francis' repeated calls for disarmament

Pope Francis has repeatedly decried the arms industry, saying that world hunger could be eradicated if weapons manufacturing money were reallocated. 

On Christmas Day, he again blasted the weapons industry and its "instruments of death" that fuel wars, as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world.

During the Angelus on March 3, ahead of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, he again urged all members of “the great family of nations” to be courageous and work for disarmament, saying it is a "moral obligation."

“How many resources are wasted on military expenses that, due to the current situation, sadly continue to increase!” the Pope exclaimed in his address, expressing his hope for a shift in mindset and investments.