Global Arms Report: France Surpasses Russia, India Prefers France and US Over Russia

France has become the world's second largest arms exporter, just ahead of Russia, with a 47% increase in arms exports between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. This surge is attributed to France's pursuit of "strategic autonomy" and support for its arms industry. Meanwhile, Russia's arms exports have halved, partly due to China's ability to produce high-tech weapons independently. The war in Ukraine has led to a doubling of weapons imports to Europe, with Ukraine becoming the world's fourth largest arms importer. Despite efforts by NGOs to restrict arms sales, the impact has been limited, and Western countries continue to dominate global arms exports.