Actions

The World Hasn't Moved This Many Weapons Since The End Of The Cold War

New research found of the more than 100 countries studied from 2012 to 2016, the U.S. was responsible for a third of all major weapons moved.

By: Ryan Biek

Posted at 8:47 AM, Feb 21, 2017

and last updated 2017-02-21 08:47:00-05

A new report shows the amount of weapons being bought and sold around the world is growing.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the number of major weapons transfers over the past five years is on par with the end of the Cold War.

The independent institute researches "conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament." It keeps a running database of weapons transfers using government resources, industry reports and media outlets.

Of the more than 100 countries it studied from 2012 to 2016, it found the U.S. exported one-third of all major weapons moved.

Roughly half of those weapons from the U.S. went to the Middle East. Experts told CNN instability in the region and the rise of ISIS likely helped increase sales.

Since 2012, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been the biggest U.S. customers. A researcher told Al Jazeera both countries are using advanced weapons to intervene in Yemen's civil war.

The amount of money the U.S. makes off weapons exports depends on who's buying them. Most countries pay for the imported arms themselves. But some, like Israel, receive funding from the U.S. that's then used to buy American weapons.