‘Mon Dieu!’ – France overtakes Russia as world’s No.2 arms exporter

That France now finds itself as the second largest arms exporter around the world is surprising enough.  More shocking is that only 9% of its arms exports in the years 2019-2023 have gone to the rest of Europe.

At a time when Ukraine and the whole of Eastern Europe is fighting for its very survival, these figures are particularly disturbing.

What follows is a break-down of those findings, together with a link to the full report beneath them.

We are, as ever, grateful to Brexit Facts4EU.Org for highlighting these developments and bringing them to our readers’ attention.

Macron’s France is now the world’s second-largest arms exporter

However 91% of France’s arms exports go outside Europe, not to protect it

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY

91% of French arms exports leave Europe

At a time of serious concerns about security and defence in Europe, the French arms industry has been benefiting. However, the vast majority of this production has been sent to countries outside Europe altogether.

1. Destination of French arms exports

1. Asia and Oceania : 42%
2. Middle East : 34%
3. Europe : 9%
4. Other : 15%

[Source SIPRI, Mar 2024.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2024 – click to enlarge

2. The world’s Top 5 exporters of major arms, 2019–23

Share of the market

1. USA : 42%
2. France : 11%
3. Russia : 11%
4. China : 5.8%
5. Germany : 5.6%

• (UK : Placed 7th on 3.7%)

[Source SIPRI, Mar 2024.]

Please support our work – we need your help:

The article can be read in full here.

CIBUK.Org would like to thank its affiliate Brexit Facts4EU.Org for their kind permission to re-publish this article.

Main image: Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024