These are the world's 10 biggest arms exporters and the countries they send weapons to

The top five Western European suppliers of arms together accounted for 21 per cent of global arms transfers between 2011 and 2015.

Research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has shown that between the periods of 2006 to 2010 and 2011 to 2015, arms exports increased by 26 per cent for the UK, rising to account for 4.5 per cent of all global arms trade.

The US was the world's largest arms exporter, exporting 33 per cent of all arms in the world between 2011 and 2015.

Their biggest clients were (per cent share of exporter's total 2011/15):

1. US: Saudi Arabia (9.7 per cent), UAE (9.1 per cent) and Turkey (6.6 per cent)
2. Russia: India (39 per cent), China (11 per cent) and Vietnam (11 per cent)
3. China: Pakistan (35 per cent), Bangladesh (20 per cent) and Myanmar (16 per cent)
4. France: Morocco (16 per cent), China (13 per cent) and Egypt (9.5 per cent)
5. Germany: US (13 per cent), Israel (11 per cent) and Greece (10 per cent)
6. UK: Saudi Arabia (46 per cent), India (11 per cent) and Indonesia (8.7 per cent)
7. Spain: Australia (29 per cent), Saudi Arabia (12 per cent) and Turkey (8.7 per cent)
8. Italy: UAE (10 per cent), India (8.8 per cent) and Turkey (8.2 per cent)
9. Ukraine: China (26 per cent), Russia (12 per cent) and Ethiopia (9.2 per cent)
10. Netherlands: Morocco (17 per cent), Jordan (12 per cent) and US (7.7 per cent)

The UK was the second-largest importer of arms in Europe for 2011 to 2015, despite a fall in imports of 17 per cent compared with 2006 to 2010.

However, the UK did not make the top ten globally, which saw India as the largest importer, accounting for 14 per cent of all trade.

The countries they bought most from were (per cent share of importer's total 2011/15):

1. India: Russia (70 per cent), US (14 per cent) and Israel (4.5 per cent)
2. Saudi Arabia: US (46 per cent), UK (30 per cent) and Spain (5.9 per cent)
3. China: Russia (59 per cent), France (15 per cent) and Ukraine (14 per cent)
4. UAE: US (65 per cent), France (8.4 per cent) and Italy (5.9 per cent)
5. Australia: US (57 per cent), Spain (28 per cent) and France (7.2 per cent)
6. Turkey: US (63 per cent), South Korea (9.5 per cent) and Spain (8.9 per cent)
7. Pakistan: China (63 per cent), US (19 per cent) and Italy (4.6 per cent)
8. Vietnam: Russia (93 per cent), Ukraine (2.6 per cent) and Spain (0.9 per cent)
9. US: Germany (21 per cent), Canada (11 per cent) and Norway (8.1 per cent)
10. Netherlands: US (80 per cent), Germany (13 per cent) and Sweden (2.2 per cent)

In terms of the Middle East, between 2011-15 imports to the region increased by 61 per cent from 2006-10.

Saudi Arabia was responsible for 27 per cent of arms transfers in the region, whereas 18 per cent went to the UAE and 14 per cent to Turkey.

In terms of those selling, the US accounted for 53 per cent of total arms supplies to the region, the UK for 9.6 per cent and Russia for 8.2 per cent.

HT Zaid Benjamin

More:The world's 10 biggest arms exporters and importers

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