Türkiye has significantly expanded its share in global arms exports, rising from 0.8% in 2015-19 to 1.7% in 2020-24, marking a 103% increase, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released on March 10.
This surge has positioned Türkiye as the 11th largest arms exporter globally as of 2024.
Key Markets for Turkish Defense Exports
- UAE: 18% (largest buyer)
- Pakistan: 10%
- Qatar: 9.9%
Meanwhile, Türkiye’s arms imports dropped 33%, declining from 1.7% in 2015-19 to 1.1% in 2020-24.
Major Arms Suppliers to Türkiye
- Spain: 34% (largest supplier)
- Italy: 24%
- Germany: 18%
Global Arms Trade Trends
- The United States remains the top global arms exporter, accounting for 43% of worldwide sales.
- France follows, contributing 9.6% to global exports.
- European arms imports skyrocketed 155%, largely driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Ukraine became the world’s largest arms importer, receiving 8.8% of global imports in 2020-24, with 45% of its weapons coming from the U.S.
- India, the second-largest arms importer, saw a 9.3% decline in purchases compared to 2015-19.
The SIPRI report underscores Türkiye’s rising influence in the global defense industry, while geopolitical tensions continue to shape arms trade dynamics worldwide.