Ukraine Becomes World’s 4th Largest Arms Importer

(FILES) Two Dassault Rafale fighter jets take off for a mission from Fetesti Air Base, in the commune Borcea, near the town of Fetesti, Romania on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP)
(FILES) Two Dassault Rafale fighter jets take off for a mission from Fetesti Air Base, in the commune Borcea, near the town of Fetesti, Romania on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP)
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Ukraine Becomes World’s 4th Largest Arms Importer

(FILES) Two Dassault Rafale fighter jets take off for a mission from Fetesti Air Base, in the commune Borcea, near the town of Fetesti, Romania on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP)
(FILES) Two Dassault Rafale fighter jets take off for a mission from Fetesti Air Base, in the commune Borcea, near the town of Fetesti, Romania on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP)

States in Europe almost doubled their imports of major arms in the past five year, partly due to the war in Ukraine, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

While Ukraine has become the world's fourth largest arms importer, exports from Russia halved.

France has replaced Russia as the world's second largest exporter behind the United States.

In 2019-2023, arms imports to Europe rose by 94 percent compared to the preceding five-year period, while overall global arms transfers decreased slightly, SIPRI said.

The increase is “partially explained by the war in Ukraine, and Ukraine has become the fourth largest importer of arms in the world in the last five years,” SIPRI researcher Katarina Djokic told AFP.

SIPRI prefers to analyze trends over half-decades as a few deliveries of major contracts can tilt yearly figures.

SIPRI noted that at least 30 countries had supplied major weapons as military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

But other European nations also increased imports, with a larger share coming from the world's number one exporter of arms, the United States.

In the 2019-2023 period, 55 percent of imports to Europe were from the US, up from 35 percent in the 2014-2018 period.

This is partly due to most European states being NATO members and partners of the US in the development of weapon systems like the F-35 fighter jet, Djokic said.

At the same time increased imports from the US underlined many European nations' desire to quickly acquire weapons and therefore buy “off the shelf” rather than develop new systems.

Globally, US exports grew by 17 percent in the period, bringing its share of total arms exports to 42 percent.

Russia -- which long held the position as the second largest exporter -- saw its exports fall by 53 percent between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023.

Russia was not only exporting fewer weapons, it was also exporting to fewer recipients.

It only exported to 12 countries in 2023, compared to 31 in 2019.

“There are also important changes in the policies of their biggest customer, China,” Djokic said.

China was traditionally one of the biggest recipients of Russian arms but has been pushing to develop its domestic production.

China still accounted for 21 percent of Russian exports, while India was the biggest recipient with 34 percent.

While Russia's exports declined, France saw its own grow by 47 percent, thereby narrowly edging out Russia to become the world's second largest exporter.

France accounted for 11 percent of total weapons exports in 2019-2023.

In particular, Djokic noted that France had been particularly successful in selling its Rafale fighter jet outside Europe.

SIPRI researcher Zain Hussain said the war in Gaza -- which began in retaliation for Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel -- has already affected arms imports to Israel.

This is primarily through transfers of weapons from the US, either via new military aid or the speeding up already existing contracts, he said.

Hussain cautioned that the longer term impact of the conflict was harder to predict.

“We already see in certain European states a kind of push by different actors or states to limit arms to Israel during its (military) operations in Gaza due to potential violations of international humanitarian law,” Hussain said.



Israeli Judiciary Examines Impeaching Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
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Israeli Judiciary Examines Impeaching Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on April 4 (Reuters) 

Well-informed sources in the Israeli judiciary have reported that the government's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is re-examining the possibility of impeaching Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of the hostile stance he and his government are taking against the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.

The dispute between the PM and Bar had lately gone far as to urge Netanyahu to cancel a security forum scheduled two days ago after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced his intention to boycott such meetings if the Shin Bet chief attends.

Israeli sources said Netanyahu’s decision is a “serious violation of the rules of governance.”

They accused the government of letting internal rivalries override urgent national security concerns.

The PM decision to cancel the security meeting came amid increased tensions between the political echelon and the country’s security and judicial system, particularly considering the fresh security scandal, which saw a Shin Bet official arrested on suspicion of leaking classified information to an elected official and two journalists.

It also comes after Netanyahu’s cabinet voted last month to fire Bar, a decision that the High Court of Justice froze until further notice.

Unofficial Security Consultations

On Wednesday, Kan 11 reported that from now on, Netanyahu will hold the majority of his security meetings informally, to ensure that the head of the Shin Bet does not attend.

On Wednesday, Smotrich’s office said he notified Netanyahu he would not participate in security meetings if Bar was attending, calling him a “dangerous man” who uses Shin Bet tools for “personal needs” and to “take revenge on politicians and journalists.”

Opposition’s Reaction

In return, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who said that calling off a security cabinet meeting “because of a threat from an extremist minister is a direct violation of state security.”

He added that the “criminal government is a danger to every citizen of the State of Israel”.

Similarly, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that it was “alarmed” that “sensitive security discussions are being canceled due to personal and political disputes.”

“What other discussions will be canceled due to the same conflicts?” the forum asked. “Will the fate of the hostages be decided based on petty politics?

“Show responsibility, sit in one room and come up with an agreement that will return everyone,” it added.

Benny Gantz, chairman of the opposition National Unity party, said that the cancellation of the meeting was “reckless” and could harm Israel’s national security.