Morocco Slashes Arms Imports by 60% as Middle East Military Spending Surges

According to SIPRI, the Middle East region recorded the highest rate of arms imports during the 2016-2020 period, with increased acquisitions by Saudi Arabia (+61%), and quantitative leaps by Egypt (+136%) and Qatar (+361%).

In North Africa, the Institute notes a significant increase in arms imports by Algeria (+64%) compared to the 2011-2015 period, recalling that this country is one of the main export markets for German arms, just as Egypt is a major importer of Russian and Chinese arms.

"The significant increase in transfers from three of the five major arms exporters, the United States, France and Germany, has largely offset the decline in arms exports from Russia and China," explains SIPRI, which specifies that major international arms transfers remained stable between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020.