20260309 Bericht zur Aufrüstung von SIPRI

Windfall for the arms industry

Arms companies have been able to increase their profits much more significantly than in recent years. In its overview of armament and arms transfers published today, SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, makes some alarming observations:

Global arms transfers are rising by almost 10 percent.

Global arms flows are increasing by almost 10 percent.

The total volume of major weapons traded between states rose by 9.2% between 2016-20 and 2021/25.

European states have more than tripled their arms imports, making them the largest recipient region.

Exports from the United States, the world's largest arms supplier, rose by 27%.

The US accounted for 42% of all international arms transfers. US arms exports to Europe rose by 217%. Conclusion: The biggest profits from armament go to the US.

Demand from European countries has driven global arms transfers up by almost 10%.

Germany overtook China as the fourth-largest arms exporter, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports.

A quarter of all German arms exports went to Ukraine as aid (and another 17% went to other European countries).

Germany's arms exports rose by 157%.

Russia was the only top 10 supplier to export less (-64%).

Imports of major weapons by African countries fell by 41% between 2016-2020 and 2021-25.

How we get rid of this dangerous amount of scrap metal will be crucial for the survival of humanity. It is sad and infuriating to think of all the meaningful things that could have been done for education, social welfare, and sustainability with the resources wasted on this.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)