Morocco has increased its arms imports by 12% between 2016–20 and 2021–25, becoming the top arms importer in Africa, according to new data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Globally, the United States supplied 42% of all international arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36% in 2016–20. Nevertheless, the top single recipient of US arms was Saudi Arabia (12 per cent of US arms exports). “While tensions and conflicts in Asia and Oceania and the Middle East continue to drive large-scale arms imports, the sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10 per cent,” said Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program. The 29 current European NATO members’ combined arms imports grew by 143 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 11, 2026 01:52 UTC