Saudi arms imports more than triple since 2013

Saudi Arabia was the world’s second largest arms importer over the past five years, with arms imports soaring more than three-fold (225 percent) in 2013-17, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

In the wider Middle East, arms imports by countries doubled between 2013 and 2017, compared to the previous five years.

With many Middle Eastern countries directly involved in violent conflict, the region accounted for 32 percent of global arms imports in 2013–17.

The US and European nations remained top exporters to the region, supplying 98 percent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia, said Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

Other top importers in the region included Egypt, which increased imports by 215 per cent during 2013-17, compared to 2008-12.

The United Arab Emirates was the fourth largest importer in 2013-17, while Qatar also increased its arms imports and signed several major deals in that period.

In terms of arms exporters, the US represented 34 percent of total arms exports in 2013-17, with exports increasing 25 percent compared to the previous five-year period.

US arms exports in 2013-17 were 58 percent higher than those of Russia, the second largest arms exporter in that period, SIPRI said.

The US supplied major arms to 98 states over the past five years, according to the report. Exports to Middle Eastern countries accounted for 49 percent of total US arms exports in that period.

Meanwhile, the volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2013-17 was 10 percent higher than in 2008-12, the data showed.

“The flow of arms increased to Asia and Oceania and the Middle East between 2008-12 and 2013-17, while there was a decrease in the flow to Africa, the Americas and Europe,” SIPRI said.

The five biggest exporters – the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China – together accounted for 74 percent of all arms exports in 2013-17.