Janice R. Andrews
Based on the most recent analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France has surpassed Russia to become the world’s second-largest arms exporter, marking a dramatic shift in the global arms industry.
According to the research, Russia’s arms exports have drastically decreased, and its share of the global market has dropped to about 11%, which is slightly less than that of France (11%). This decrease, which dates back to 2019, precedes the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has been made worse by sanctions resulting from Moscow’s actions in the country.
The reason behind France’s rise to the second rank is its strategic endeavors to penetrate markets that have historically been dominated by Russia, like India, by striking significant agreements for Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter aircraft.
In a major break from past patterns, India, the largest arms importer in the world, has switched its purchases of combat aircraft from Russia to French manufacturers.
The fact that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended last year’s Bastille Day celebrations as the guest of honor highlighted the two countries’ growing defense ties. This cooperation is strengthened by recent deals, such as the sale of Scorpène-class naval submarines and fighter jets built by the Rafale Marines.
There’s a noticeable tendency of European countries depending increasingly on arms imports from the United States, even if Europe as a whole has seen a significant increase in arms imports, with Ukraine emerging as the continent’s top arms importer. This change is especially noticeable because, in the last five years, armament imports from across the Atlantic have accounted for 55% of total imports, up from 35% in the previous five years.
Even though it has done well in non-European markets, France is having trouble leveraging higher defense spending in Europe. France’s exports to European clients remain relatively low, with the majority coming from the sale of Rafale jets to Greece, while NATO members increase their defense expenditures.
