Arms exports stabilize for the first time since the turn of the century

If the market remains dominated by the United States which arrogates to itself 37% of market share, ahead of Russia, France remains the third country exporting arms.

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The international arms trade has stabilized over the past five years, the Stockholm-based International Peace Research Institute said in its report on Monday.

A first since the beginning of the century which can be explained, according to Sipri, by the fact that several importing countries have embarked on the manufacture of weapons, like China. 

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There is a paradox in the arms trade: everywhere military spending is on the rise, increasing by almost 4% over one year, to reach $ 1,830 billion, and yet exports are stagnant.

A stabilization, notes

the Sipri institute

, which must however be qualified, because over the past five years, three of the five largest exporters, the United States, France and Germany, have increased their sales, in particular at destination from the Middle-East.

On the other hand, further east, particularly in India, once the largest importer of arms in the world, acquisitions of foreign materiel have fallen by a third, in part due to New Delhi's desire to reduce its dependence by favoring "Made in India".

Local production

Local arms production is a trend observed in recent years in several importing countries.

And China is the perfect example of this: for example, it already has two aircraft carriers, is building a third, and over the past twelve months, it has strengthened itself with planes, destroyers and the launching of two new amphibious assault helicopter carriers. 

Beijing announced a military budget of over $ 200 billion a few days ago, up 6%.

A budget which of course fully benefits its defense industry. 

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