Arms Transfers: U.S. and Russia’s Biggest Trading Partners
The increase in conflicts worldwide, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, has shifted global focus back onto arms transfers between countries.
The global arms trade is huge.
While it’s hard to pin down an exact value of arms transfers, VisualCapitalist's Jeff Desjardins notes the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that the number was at least $76 billion in 2013, with the caveat that it is likely higher.
The volume of transfers have been trending upwards now for roughly 15 years.
Volume of Arms TransfersCourtesy of: SIPRI
But where are these arms going?