US Weapons Exports Surge as Europe Arms Itself

The U.S. is "solidifying its position as the world's most important arms supplier," according to a global arms dealing watchdog, as major conflict returns to Europe and the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates.

The latest annual data set released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Sunday indicates a surge in American weapons exports as the country's European allies embark on a rearmament drive.

Collective exports by U.S. producers for 2019-23 were 17 percent higher than during the 2014-18 period, SIPRI said. Its share of total global arms exports rose from 34 percent to 42 percent, maintaining the country's position as the world's largest weapons exporter.

This coincided with a 94 percent increase in major arms imports by European powers over the same time period. Ukrainian imports accounted for a significant proportion of this, making the country Europe's number one importer.

"The growth in demand in Europe is of course a very important thing," Pieter D. Wezeman, a senior researcher in the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, told Newsweek.

"There will be also a greater demand for U.S. equipment, even though of course within Europe there are attempts to refocus the procurement of European states towards European equivalents."

Russia's war on Ukraine has been a boon for the American military-industrial complex. U.S. weapons—even those considered outdated within the American arsenal—have repeatedly outclassed those fielded by Russia, with Kyiv clamoring for more. HIMARS, tube artillery, infantry fighting vehicles, and more have all proven their mettle.

The war has also served as a valuable testing ground for advancing American technology, like drones and electronic warfare systems.

Europeans—seeking to both re-animate their militaries and tie America closer to the continent's defense—are looking across the Atlantic Ocean for solutions to the Russian threat.

European relations with the U.S., Wezeman said, are "determined, partly at least, by the fact that European states do buy military equipment from the U.S.; that strengthens their relations with the U.S. arms industry, with the U.S. military establishment, and through all that, of course, also with U.S. politicians."

The U.S. certainly appears to be in prime position to benefit from Europe's renewed security consciousness. American goods accounted for 55 percent of European arms imports from 2019-23, up from 35 percent from 2014-18. This far outstripped the arms provided by Germany and France to their fellow Europeans, at 6.4 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.

SIPRI expects the spike in reliance on U.S. weapons to continue, partially due to so many large contacts—for example for combat jets like the F-35 stealth fighter and helicopters like the Apache—in place. European nations have agreed to deals for almost 800 American aircraft.

Agreements to supply new air defense systems like the Patriot are also likely to become more common in response to Russia's missile campaign against Ukraine, Wezeman said.

"These are very long-term projects," Wezeman said, suggesting the trajectory is unlikely to change absent a "complete change in the relationship between the U.S. and European states."

Indeed, with NATO's expansion and no sign of a thaw with Russia, U.S. firms may yet have even more opportunity. "In Sweden, the arms industry has been very positive about Sweden becoming part of NATO because you then become part of the NATO procurement network," Wezeman said.

"You become even closer and you increase even further your chances to benefit from the enormous increase in demand for Europe and elsewhere in the world."

"We shouldn't forget that there is a very substantial flow of military technology from the U.S. to Europe, but there's also the other way around," Wezeman added.

America's European allies are nervous ahead of November's presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has made clear his continued skepticism of Ukraine, of NATO and of the European Union.

But, Wezeman said, even a second Trump term might not torpedo America's lucrative European contracts.

"Don't forget, a few years back, he made a major point about the fact that he had been highly successful in selling arms to Saudi Arabia. So, why wouldn't he want to make the same point about Europe?"