Arms imports into Europe have almost doubled over the last 5 years. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) reveals that over the period 2019-2023, due to the war in Ukraine, arms imports jumped by 94%. And for the first time, notes the Stockholm Institute, France climbs onto the second step of the exporting countries, relegating Russia to 3rd place.
Since 2019, France has seen its international sales jump by 47% while Russia saw its sales fall by 53%. A serious setback for Moscow, a setback all the more significant as it comes during a period of strong tensions between the two countries.
Of course, in this competition, the United States remains by far the leading arms exporter in the world, taking 42% of total sales alone. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized: France has never occupied this second place, specifies Léo Péria-Peigné, arms specialist at the French Institute for Strategic Research, here, in his eyes, are the reasons for the success: “ I think we can see two main ones, firstly there will be the decline in Russian arms exports, a consequence of the war in Ukraine, Russian industry producing first for national consumption more than for national consumption. export and secondly, there are the very big successes of some specific products from French industry such as the Rafale or some electronic systems which are systems with very high added value. So there is no point in selling a lot of them, their price means that it will weigh heavily in the balance. »
Weapons Itar Free
This success is also due to the fact that French weapons are Itar Free, not falling under American regulations on arms sales which are generally very restrictive. Countries that buy French equipment own it completely.
A strong argument when signing XXL contracts, but not only that, there is also another reason for choosing tricolor materials assures Léo Péria-Peigné: “ When India buys the Rafale, it is not necessarily for the quality of the Rafale itself, but it is also because the Rafale can carry weapons that the United States will be more reluctant to sell. I am thinking in particular of missiles. As for the purchase of the Emirates or Qatar, it is also a way of strengthening an alliance. France has troops stationed in Qatar who provide training and reassurance. Buying weapons from France for the Emirates is also a way of sealing an alliance and hardening it. The same when Greece buys bursts, yes, it is important, but Greece also enlists a little support from France in its bickering with Turkey. »
Buying French is also a way of not alienating the United States. Turkey experienced this: by equipping itself with the Russian S-400 surface-to-air battery: it thus found itself excluded from the purchase of F-35 aircraft. French equipment is the choice of a third, more neutral way, it is also one of the reasons for the success of the French defense industry.