Saudi Arabia was the largest recipient of US arms in 2015–19 and accounted for 25 percent of U.S. arms exports, a surge of 17.6 percent over the period between 2010-2014, according to the latest Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2019 report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Data from SIPRI.org.
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer of U.S. arms between 2015 and 2019.
Globally, Saudi Arabia led the five largest arms importers in 2015–19, a group that included India, Egypt, Australia and China. Together that group received 36 percent of all arms imports.
The five largest arms exporters in 2015–19 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. Together, they accounted for 76 percent of all arms exports in 2015–19, according to SIPRI.
Between 2010–14 and 2015–19, there were increases in arms transfers to the Middle East by 61 percent, the group said.
“Although the US Congress discussed the possibility of placing some restrictions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia in 2019, deliveries—including the delivery of 30 out of 154 combat aircraft ordered in 2011—continued throughout 2019. In addition, in 2019 the US Government authorized the sale of an estimated 59 000 guided bombs to Saudi Arabia,” SIPRI notes.
Between 2015 and 2019, Saudi Arabia led the world with 12% of all imported arms, beating second place India by 3%.
