In a new report published on 11 March entitled ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018,’ SIPRI noted that between 2009–13 and 2014–18, arms imports by African states decreased by 6.5%. Middle Eastern arms imports almost double in the past five yearsArms imports by states in the Middle East increased by 87% between 2009–13 and 2014–18 and accounted for 35% of global arms imports in 2014–18. Arms imports by Egypt, the third largest arms importer in 2014–18, tripled (206%) between 2009–13 and 2014–18. Australia became the world’s fourth largest arms importer in 2014–18 after its arms imports increased by 37% compared with 2009–13. Chinese arms imports decreased, but it was still the world’s sixth largest arms importer in 2014–18.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 12, 2019 10:18 UTC