Pakistan’s arms imports rose by 66 percent between 2021 and 2025 compared with 2016–20, with China supplying 80 percent of its weapons, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report noted that China’s share as Pakistan’s main arms provider increased from 73 percent in the previous five-year period.

In South Asia, India continued to import large quantities of weapons, driven by concerns over China and ongoing tensions with Pakistan, a major recipient of Chinese arms. SIPRI senior researcher Siemon Wezeman said the imported weapons were used in a 2025 clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

While Pakistan’s imports jumped, India remained the world’s second-largest arms importer, despite a four percent drop. The report highlighted India’s diversification of suppliers, increasingly turning to Western countries. Russia’s share in India’s imports fell to 40 percent in 2021–25, down from 51 percent in 2016–20 and nearly half its 70 percent share in 2011–15.

Across Asia and Oceania, states accounted for 31 percent of global arms imports, although the region saw a 20 percent drop compared with 2016–20. Declines were driven by reduced imports from China (-72 percent), South Korea (-54 percent), and Australia (-39 percent). Still, four countries in the region—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia ranked among the top 10 global importers.

“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 percent,” said Mathew George, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

Globally, major arms transfers rose by 9.2 percent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, largely due to higher shipments to Europe and the Middle East. Arms imports by Middle Eastern countries fell by 13 percent but the region still hosted three of the top 10 importers: Saudi Arabia (6.8 percent of global imports), Qatar (6.4 percent), and Kuwait (2.8 percent). The United States (US) supplied over half of the region’s weapons.

Israel ranked as the 14th largest arms importer, with its imports up 12 percent. The US supplied 68 percent of Israeli arms, followed by Germany at 31percent. SIPRI noted that Israel continued to receive major weapons, including combat aircraft and guided bombs, throughout the Gaza conflict.

Europe emerged as the largest regional recipient of arms, accounting for 33 percent of global imports. The report attributed a 210 percent increase between the two five-year periods to the war in Ukraine and concerns over Russia. Ukraine alone received 9.7 percent of all major arms transfers in 2021–25.

The US remained the top global arms supplier, increasing exports by 27percent. Its share of international arms transfers grew to 42percent in 2021–25, up from 36 percent in 2016–20. For the first time in two decades, Europe received more US arms (38 percent) than the Middle East (33 percent). Saudi Arabia remained the largest single recipient, accounting for 12 percent of US exports.


France held its position as the world’s second-largest supplier, increasing exports by 21 percent to 63 countries. Its largest clients were India (24 percent), Egypt (11 percent), and Greece (10 percent).


In contrast, Russia’s exports fell by 64 percent, cutting its global share from 21 percent to 6.8 percent between the two periods. 

Russia supplied arms to 30 countries, with nearly three-quarters going to India (48 percent), China (13 percent), and Belarus (13 percent). Germany overtook China as the fourth-largest exporter, accounting for 5.7 percent of global exports, while Italy’s shipments grew by 157percent, making it the sixth-largest supplier.