ARMS SALE REPORT

Subject : Current Events

Context : U.S. and Chinese companies dominated the global arms market in 2019, while West Asia made its first appearance among the 25 biggest weapons manufacturers, a report by the SIPRI research institute said.

Concept :

• The U.S. has dominated the market for decades, but for China — whose companies’ sales rose by almost 5% in 2019 — this increase corresponds to the implementation of reforms to modernise the People’s Liberation Army underway since 2015.
• For the first time, a company from the West Asia made it into the “Top 25”. That is, EDGE, of the United Arab Emirates, which was formed by the consolidation of some 25 defence entities in 2019.
• In 22nd spot, EDGE is a good illustration of how the combination of high national demand for military products and services with a desire to become less dependent on foreign suppliers is driving the growth of arms companies in the Middle East.