Egypt arms imports grow 206% in five years

Egypt has retained its position as the world’s third largest arms importer, with its imports having tripled between 2009–13 and 2014–18 (an increase of 206%), according to data recently released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Major suppliers include the US and the UK, with Russia, France and Germany having also “dramatically increased” their arms sales to Egypt over the last five years. Arms inflows into the wider MENA region have also surged, increasing by 87% between 2009–13 and 2014–18. The region accounted for 35% of the global volume of imports of major weapons in 2014–18.