The United States remained the largest arms exporter between 2016 and 2020, Swedish think tank says – Xinhua English.news.cn

STOCKHOLM, March 16 (Xinhua) – International arms transfers stabilized over the 2016-2020 period, while the United States remained the largest exporter during this period, a Swedish think tank said Monday.

Between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020, the United States increased its global share in arms exports from 32% to 37%, according to a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Over the past five years, the United States has supplied major weapons to more than 90 states, far more than any other supplier, while 47% of exported US arms have gone to the Middle East, according to the report.

Over the past decade, international major arms transfers have remained at the same level, as “the substantial increase in transfers from three of the top five arms exporters – the United States, France and Germany – has been largely offset by the drop in Russian and Chinese arms exports, ”the report said.

Although this is the first time since 2001-2005 that international arms deliveries have not increased, arms transfers remain close to the highest post-Cold War level, he added.

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