The US and EU are the primary suppliers of weapons to the Middle East, including Israel, amidst growing tensions in the region due to the Gaza war.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the US, France, Italy, and Germany accounted for 81 percent of arms imports to the Middle East between 2019-2023.
The US was the largest supplier, providing 52% of the arms. The main recipients in the region were Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with Qatar showing a 396% increase in imports over the past four years.
Israel ranked as the 15th largest arms importer globally, with the US and Germany being the main sources of its arms imports.
As the Gaza conflict intensifies, calls for an arms embargo on Israel have emerged from humanitarian organizations, activists, and protesters in various EU countries.
The US has been supplying ammunition and combat aircraft used by Israel in the Gaza conflict.
Germany’s largest deal with Israel involved four submarines, and Israel has also requested to purchase 10,000 German tank shells since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Sipri reported that the US delivered thousands of guided bombs and missiles to Israel at the end of 2023.
Arms imported by Middle Eastern countries have been extensively used in conflicts in the region, including in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, according to Sipri researcher Zain Hussain.
Some Gulf states have increased arms imports to counter Iranian influence in the region.
If the Gaza conflict escalates, involving Lebanon and Iran in a confrontation with Israel and the US, Sipri indicated that Iran would be at a disadvantage in terms of arms imports.
On the other hand, Israel emerged as the ninth-largest arms exporter globally, showcasing the depth of defense ties with the EU.
Israel’s future deliveries include air defense systems, armored vehicles, artillery, and combat aircraft, according to Sipri.
Russia’s war
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, Sipri highlighted a 53% decrease in Russian arms exports between 2019 and 2023 due to international reactions to its aggression.
Russia’s arms sales were limited to 12 states in 2023, mainly in the Far East, compared to 31 states in 2019.
This decline in Russian arms exports allowed France to increase its weapons sales by 47% during the same period, becoming the world’s second-largest arms exporter.
The US maintained its position as the leading arms exporter, expanding its share of the global market and European defense import market, according to Sipri’s data.
European arms imports surged by 94% due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with many high-value arms orders in place, including combat aircraft and helicopters.
EU leaders are set to discuss the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine at an upcoming summit in Brussels, where arming Ukraine and ensuring a humanitarian pause in Gaza will be key topics of discussion.
The EU memo expressed condemnation towards Hamas for its actions, while also highlighting the need for urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Notably, the final summit conclusions are expected to take a tougher stance on Israel, with a potential focus on implementing sanctions.
