Countries that buy the most American weapons in the world

In the context of increasingly complex world security developments, the US continues to benefit from arms exports.

F-35 fighter jets parked on a US aircraft carrier. Photo: AFP

During his recent first visit to Vietnam, US President Barack Obama announced the lifting of the decades-old arms embargo on Vietnam. With the arms embargo lifted, Vietnam could join the list of countries purchasing weapons from the US, according to CNN.

The US is currently the world's largest arms exporter, accounting for 33% of global arms sales. So which countries import the most weapons from this superpower?

Saudi Arabia was the most significant US buyer between 2011 and 2015, according to a study of arms purchases since 1968 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the world’s second-largest importer of US weapons.

The remaining customers in the top 10 countries/territories importing US weapons include Türkiye, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan (China), India, Singapore, Iraq and Egypt.

Experts believe that the Middle East, with its endless wars, will continue to be the leading market for US arms exports in the coming time. This region currently accounts for 40% of the value of US arms exports.

"The deep security concerns and uncertain future facing the region are even greater than the recent plunge in oil prices," said Andrew Hunter of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Countries in the region are prioritizing defense spending over other areas."

The world's largest arms importers in 2014. Source: IHS Jane's

US defense contractors are exporting a wide range of items, from small arms to fighter jets, tanks and Patriot cruise missiles.

The presence of many Asian countries at the top of the list reflects the fact that current tensions with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs and China's escalating actions in the South China Sea are clearly haunting the region, CNN commentators Curtis Brown, Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen assessed.

Loan to buy weapons

While most countries use their own money to buy weapons, some countries receive loans from Washington or enjoy incentives to buy American weapons under the "Foreign Military Financial Assistance" program.

The budget for the program, which is administered by the US State Department, could reach $5.7 billion next year.

The 2017 budget balance shows that the five countries receiving the most military aid from the US are Israel ($3.1 billion), Egypt ($1.3 billion), Jordan ($350 million), Pakistan ($265 million) and Iraq ($150 million).

Israel is one of the countries that receives the most financial support from the US for weapons purchases. Photo: Haaretz

Military assistance to Africa in 2017 will double compared to 2016 due to concerns about terrorist activities on the continent, typically in countries such as Mali, Somalia and Nigeria.

According to Mr. Hunter, US defense companies have clearly shown their desire to increase arms sales in the context of Washington's continuous cuts in defense budget spending.

"We expect the growth in arms exports in the coming years to come from overseas markets," Marillyn Hewson, chief executive of defense giant Lockheed Martin, said at a media event in March.

Besides the US, Russia, China, France and Germany are also major arms exporters and increasingly compete with the US.

China increased its share of global arms exports by over 60% between 2006 and 2010, according to SIPRI research.

One area where Beijing is investing heavily is in drone technology. China has sold drones to Nigeria, Iraq and Pakistan. In addition, China’s low-cost weapons are a big advantage when selling to countries without large defense budgets.

"There will be more and more Chinese weapons appearing at exhibitions to compete with the US," expert Hunter assessed.

According to VNE