According to a recent report on arms transfers by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France, after witnessing a substantial increase in its arms sales in 2017-2021, overtook China to become the third-biggest arms exporter in the world. According to the report, France increased its arms exports by approximately 59 percent in the last ten years and currently accounts for 11 percent of global arms exports.
However, even after witnessing the substantial increase in arms exports, France still lags behind the United States and Russia as the biggest arms exporters. According to the report by SIPRI, the United States accounts for almost 39 percent of the global arms exports. In contrast, its Cold War enemy accounts for 19 percent of the global weapons exports, far exceeding France’s share in the global arms exports. It is important to note that the increase in weapons exports of France can largely be attributed to two companies namely; Dassault and Naval Group.
Read More: Indonesia orders 42 Rafale aircrafts from France
Dassault sold a number of Rafale fighters to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, whereas Naval Group became the country’s most successful exporter of warships to the world. According to Diego Lopes Da Silva, a SIPRI researcher, much of the increase in arms exports was largely thanks to the significant increase in demand for French weaponry from India, Egypt, and Qatar.
Indonesia will order 42 Rafale fighter jets, France's defence minister said on Thursday, after the two countries signed a series of agreements that include submarine development and ammunition manufacturing. https://t.co/xgu0QCHRiH
— Stanley Widianto (@stanleywidianto) February 10, 2022
In 2019 Qatar significantly enhanced defense engagement with France as it secured the delivery of the first of 36 Rafale jets, it ordered from Dassault. India also ordered the same from France and had received the delivery of 35 out of 36 jets by February 2022.
Additionally, Indonesia also ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from France, as Paris and Jakarta sought to strengthen military ties.
The agreement was announced as Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto met his French counterpart Florence Parly in Jakarta. “It’s official, Indonesia orders 42 Rafale,” said Parly on Twitter.
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According to the report by SIPRI, France was followed by China and subsequently by Germany, both of which witnessed a decrease in arms exports in recent years.
Interestingly France was able to maintain itself as one of the largest exporters of arms despite a failed defense deal worth $66 billion with Australia. Australia canceled on the deal with France to purchase 12 conventional attack submarines and instead looked to purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the US and the UK.
It is pertinent to mention that arms exports by the UK plummeted by 41 percent between 2012–16 and 2017–21, and the UK accounted for 2.9 percent of total arms exports in 2017–21.