The volume of major arms transferred between states increased by 9.2 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, according to a report released by a leading conflict think tank on Monday.

According to the report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), states in Europe more than trebled their arms imports, making it the biggest recipient region. Total exports by the United States, the world’s largest supplier of arms, increased by 27 per cent. This included a 217 per cent increase in US arms exports to Europe.

The increase in global arms flows was the biggest since 2011–15. It was overwhelmingly due to the growth in transfers to Ukraine (which received 9.7 per cent of all arms transfers in 2021–25) and other European states. Besides Europe and the Americas, arms imports to all other world regions decreased.

The United States supplied 42 per cent of all international arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36 per cent in 2016–20. The USA exported arms to 99 states in 2021–25, including 35 states in Europe, 18 in the Americas, 17 in Africa, 17 in Asia and Oceania and 12 in the Middle East. For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38 per cent) rather than the Middle East (33 per cent). Nevertheless, the top single recipient of US arms was Saudi Arabia (12 per cent of US arms exports).

France was the second largest supplier of major arms in 2021–25, accounting for 9.8 per cent of global exports. Its arms exports increased by 21 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. France exported to 63 states, with the largest shares going to India (24 per cent), Egypt (11 per cent) and Greece (10 per cent). France’s arms exports within Europe rose more than fivefold (+452 per cent), but almost 80 per cent still went outside the region.

Russia was the only top 10 supplier to see its arms exports fall (–64 per cent). Its share of global arms exports shrank from 21 per cent in 2016–20 to 6.8 per cent in 2021–25. Russia supplied major arms to 30 states and 1 non-state actor in 2021–25. Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of Russian arms exports went to three states in 2021–25: India (48 per cent), China (13 per cent) and Belarus (13 per cent).

Germany overtook China to become the fourth largest arms exporter in 2021–25, with 5.7 per cent of global arms exports. Almost a quarter of all German arms exports (24 per cent) went to Ukraine as aid (and another 17 per cent went to other European states). 

Arms exports by Italy increased by 157 per cent, pushing it from the tenth largest exporter in 2016–20 to the sixth largest in 2021–25. Over half of Italy’s exports went to the Middle East (59 per cent), while 16 per cent went to Asia and Oceania and 13 per cent to Europe.

Israel, the seventh largest arms supplier, increased its share of global arms exports from 3.1 per cent in 2016–20 to 4.4 per cent in 2021–25, and for the first time ever overtook the United Kingdom (3.4 per cent).

European states received 33 per cent of global arms imports, with the region’s imports increasing by 210 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. After Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom were the biggest importers in Europe in the past five years. Almost half of arms transferred to European states came from the USA (48 per cent), followed by Germany (7.1 per cent) and France (6.2 per cent).

According to the report, threat perceptions concerning Russia, compounded by uncertainties over the USA’s commitment to defending its European allies, have boosted demand for arms among European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The 29 current European NATO members’ combined arms imports grew by 143 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The USA supplied 58 per cent of these imports in 2021–25. The next biggest suppliers were South Korea (8.6 per cent), Israel (7.7 per cent) and France (7.4 per cent).

At 31 per cent, states in Asia and Oceania imported the second largest share of arms in 2021–25. This was despite a 20 per cent drop in volume compared with 2016–20. The fall was mainly due to decreasing arms imports by China (–72 per cent) and, to a lesser extent, by South Korea (–54 per cent) and Australia (–39 per cent). 

Four states in Asia and Oceania ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2021–25: India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia. The main supplier to the region in 2021–25 was the USA, which accounted for 35 per cent of regional arms imports. Russia accounted for another 17 per cent and China for 14 per cent. 

India was the world’s second largest arms importer. Its imports decreased marginally (–4.0 per cent) between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The largest share of Indian arms imports came from Russia, at 40 per cent—a significantly smaller share than in 2016–20 (51 per cent) and almost half that in 2011–15 (70 per cent). India is increasingly turning to Western suppliers. Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 66 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China supplied 80 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2021–25, up from 73 per cent in 2016–20. 

In East Asia, Japan (+76 per cent) and Taiwan (+54 per cent) saw large increases in their arms imports between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1991–95, due to expanded domestic production of its own designs.

The Israeli Air Force has attacked the Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh, Head of Russia’s Federal Agency for International Humanitarian Cooperation Yevgeny Primakov said, Tass reported.

“Israeli warplanes delivered a strike on the partnership Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh. The cultural center’s head, Asaad Diya, is alive and is now in safety. They are our good friends, and the cultural center was not involved in any kind of military activities,” he wrote on Telegram. “The strike was unprovoked.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will address the European Parliament on March 11.

Pashinyan will deliver the speech on Wednesday at 12:00 local time in Strasbourg, the European Parliament’s press service said in a statement.

“Mr Pashinyan’s address comes ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, which are expected to chart the way forward for the country’s rapidly evolving relations with the EU and peace process with neighbouring Azerbaijan. The Armenian government is committed to achieving a lasting peace with Baku and a normalisation of relations with Türkiye, rapprochement with the West, and a possible future EU accession bid. In addition, the European Union is currently holding a visa liberalisation dialogue with Armenia and a dedicated EU-Armenia summit is planned for 5 May. This will be Mr Pashinyan’s second speech in the European Parliament, following a previous visit in 2023,” the European Parliament’s press service said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a Security Council meeting, his spokesperson said on Monday.

Pashinyan’s spokesperson, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, said the session was attended, among others, by Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan.

“The situation in the region was discussed. The prime minister was briefed on the progress in implementing the instructions issued earlier,” Baghdasaryan said on social media.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in a videoconference meeting organized by President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during which leaders from several countries discussed the situation in the Middle East and possible ways to reduce regional tensions, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

During the discussion, participants exchanged views on the current situation and possible solutions, emphasizing the need to intensify diplomatic efforts.

Pashinyan said Armenia is following developments in the region with concern, particularly as a number of Armenia’s partner and friendly countries are involved in the situation.

He stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and stabilizing the situation, and underscored the need to resolve the crisis as soon as possible. Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to support all constructive initiatives aimed at ensuring peace and stability.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has left for the Republic of France on a working visit, his office has said.

On March 10, the Prime Minister will participate in the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris.

On March 11, the Prime Minister will leave for Strasbourg. Nikol Pashinyan will deliver a speech at the European Parliament. As part of the visit, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will also meet with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

Sixty-three Armenian citizens who were in the United Arab Emirates returned to Yerevan on March 8 via a flight from Muscat, Oman, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

“In Oman, the consul of the Armenian Embassy welcomed citizens who used the transfer arranged by the Armenian Embassy in the UAE at the UAE–Oman border crossing and escorted them to Muscat Airport, where they received the necessary assistance,” the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that it would provide free transportation from the UAE to Oman for citizens stranded amid flight cancellations, to connect with the Muscat–Yerevan flight.

Thousands of flights were cancelled amid the Middle East escalation. 

YEREVAN, 9 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 March, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 377.29 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.66 drams to 436.15 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0448 drams to 4.8215 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 503.49 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 282 drams to 62198 drams. Silver price down by 22.8 drams to 998.8 drams.

The 69th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the main international forum on drug-related issues, opened on March 9 under the chairmanship of Armenia.

The session is chaired by Armenia’s Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the international organizations in Vienna.

The five-day meeting is attended by more than 2,000 delegates from around 130 member states, as well as over 100 international, regional and non-governmental organizations, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

Discussions during the session will focus on the global drug problem, policies aimed at addressing it and international cooperation. Participants are also expected to adopt several normative decisions related to the sector.

The Commission will consider five draft resolutions aimed, in particular, at strengthening mechanisms for the early prevention and control of synthetic drugs and precursors, preventing the illicit use of equipment and supply chains for their production and trafficking, and enhancing public health responses and alternative development programmes.

The Commission will also review recommendations by the World Health Organization on adding new substances to international drug control conventions.

The session is expected to finalize the establishment of a new multidisciplinary expert group to assist the Commission in reviewing the implementation of the conventions.

About 170 side events and 24 exhibitions will be held during the session.

Armenia has been a member of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs since 2024 and holds the chairmanship for 2026.