Turkey sixth largest arms importer, report reveals

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Turkey has become the sixth largest arms importer in the world between 2011 and 2015, with the United States as the world’s biggest arms supplier, according to recent research released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Turkey accounted for 3.4 percent of global arms imports in the past five years, according to the research, entitled “Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2015.”

The top five arms recipients were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE and Australia, accounting for 34 percent of the total arms imports during the period.

Turkey has also become the third largest recipient of arms from the U.S., which was the top arms exporter in the same period. Turkey’s arms imports accounted for 6.6 percent of U.S. arms exports. Countries who received the most arms from the U.S. were Saudi Arabia, accounting for 9.7 percent of U.S. arms exports, and the UAE with 9.1 percent.

With a 33 percent share of total arms exports, the U.S. was the top arms exporter between 2011 and 2015. Its exports of major weapons increased by 27 percent compared with 2006 and 2010. The U.S. delivered major weapons to at least 96 states between 2011 and 2015, a significantly higher number of export destinations than any other supplier. 

At the regional level, the Middle East was the largest recipient of U.S. weapons, accounting for 41 percent of arms exports. Asia and Oceania received 40 percent and Europe 9.9 percent. Supplies of aircraft accounted for 59 percent of U.S. arms exports. As of the end of 2015, the U.S. had numerous outstanding large arms export contracts, including contracts to supply a total of 611 of its new generation F-35 combat aircraft to 9 states.