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Defense exports have declined over the past five years.
The volume of international arms shipments fell by 4.6 percent between 2017 and 2021 compared to the previous five-year period, according to a report by the Stockholm-based peace research institute Sipri.
Germany is still one of the five largest arms exporters.
Despite the slight decline, arms exports are at a high level overall.
Compared to the years 2007 to 2011, for example, the new values still represent an increase of 3.9 percent.
"The world is no safer place than it was in the early 1990s or at the end of the Cold War," said Sipri expert Siemon Wezeman.
That was also the case before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Because of the war, the peace researchers are now also anticipating a clear increase in import figures over the course of the coming decade - especially in some EU countries such as Germany.
According to Sipri, the slight global decline in the arms trade also hides major differences between world regions.
While South America, for example, has imported less armaments than it has in 50 years, there are still high import volumes in Europe, East Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.
In Europe, imports rose by 19 percent.
This can be attributed, at least in part, to a significant deterioration in relations with Russia.
The lead of the USA among the 60 arms-exporting countries has continued to grow.
The United States is now responsible for 39 percent of all arms exports, primarily because of its military aircraft.
This share is more than double that of Russia in second place.
Overall, Russian arms exports fell by about a quarter.
Less was sold, especially to India and Vietnam.
More exports to China and Egypt could not compensate for that.
The figures show how difficult it is for Russia to find new buyers for weapons - partly because the USA and European countries are putting pressure on countries such as India, Algeria and Egypt to forego Russian arms deliveries.
The pressure is likely to increase in the coming years.
But also technically Russian armaments manufacturers have fallen behind.
According to Sipri, the Federal Republic of Germany recorded a 19 percent decline in export volume compared to the previous five-year period and 49 percent compared to 2007 to 2011. German arms deliveries such as frigates, submarines and armored vehicles account for around 4.5 percent of global arms exports.
According to the Sipri report, only 0.1 percent of global arms exports went to Ukraine.
Arms deliveries would have more political than military significance here.
ssu/dpa