India has become the world’s second largest arms importer during the period 2021-2025. According to a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), this accounts for 8.2% of total global arms imports.
- The report highlights the gradual shift in India’s defence procurement strategy, with the country rapidly purchasing weapons from Western suppliers such as France, Israel and the United States. However, Russia still remains an important defence partner for India.
- The report states that India’s defence purchases are driven by the need to modernise its armed forces and maintain strategic preparedness in a challenging security environment.
- Despite the large share of imports, the report also states that there has been a decrease in India’s arms imports. Nearly 4% less compared to the previous 05 years (2016-2020).
- Russia’s share in India’s arms imports has steadily declined over time. According to the SIPRI report, Russia’s share in India’s arms imports was about 70% during the year 2011-2015.
- It declined to 51% in the year 2016-2020 and further declined to 40% in the year 2021-2025.
About the world’s largest arms importing country
- According to the SIPRI report of March, 2026, Ukraine was the world’s largest arms importer during the year 2021-25, receiving 9.7% of total global arms transfers.
- Top 5 importers (year 2021-25): Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan.
- Ukraine’s imports increased due to the ongoing war with Russia.
Major facts of the SIPRI report
- Between the year 2016–20 and the year 2021–25, the volume of major arms transferred among European countries increased by 9.2%. European countries more than tripled their arms imports, making Europe the largest receiving region.
- This includes a 217% increase in US arms exports to Europe. For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38 percent) rather than the Middle East (33 percent).
According to the SIPRI report about the major arms exporting countries
- The report also highlights major changes in the global arms market between the year 2021 and 2025.
- The United States remained the largest arms exporter with a 42% share in global exports, followed by France with 9.8% and Russia with 6.8%.
- France exported to 63 countries, with the largest share going to India (24 percent), Egypt (11 percent) and Greece (10 percent).
- Russia’s share declined sharply compared to previous years, falling from 21% in the year 2016-2020 to 6.8% in the year 2021-2025, mainly due to a decline in exports to countries such as Algeria, China and Egypt.
- During the year 2021–25, about three-quarters (74 percent) of Russia’s arms exports went to three countries: India (48%), China (13%) and Belarus (13%).
- Germany overtook China to become the fourth largest arms exporter during the year 2021–25, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports.
- Meanwhile, Europe emerged as the largest regional arms importer for the first time since the 1960s, mainly due to the war in Ukraine and growing security concerns.
