«India Great Power» Profits Record by Leveraging the «Russian Threat»

Multifunctional fighter, Dassault Rafale. Photo.

The global arms market is experiencing a significant restructuring of shares among major military equipment exporters. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and the imposition of unprecedented sanctions on Moscow by the West, France has risen to become the second-largest supplier of military equipment globally.

For decades, the United States and Russia have consistently ranked first and second in weapons and military technology exports. The United States still maintains its leading position with a significant advantage over its competitors, while Russia has dropped to third place.

Last year, French defense companies received 21.6 billion euros in arms orders, setting a record second-highest level, just below the peak of 27 billion euros in 2022. This information was disclosed by the French media outlet Mediapart on September 9, citing a report submitted by the Ministry of Defense to the Fifth Republic Parliament.

According to the report, Paris analysts pointed out that French arms exports have undergone a certain degree of regional transformation - shifting from the Middle East and Asian markets to Europe.

Export orders in 2024 increased nearly double compared to the average of the past ten years. The main reasons include the sale of 12 multi-role Rafale fighters to Serbia, Indonesia's confirmation of an additional purchase of 18 Rafale fighters, and the Netherlands' order of four Suffren-class nuclear submarines.

Traditionally, French arms sales were concentrated in the Middle East and Asia, but 60% of orders in 2024 came from European countries. These countries are actively pushing for military modernization under the pretext of an "increased Russian threat."

European Union countries accounted for 41% of the total contract value of French defense companies, while the average during 2012-2021 was only 10%. To expand the European market share, Paris prioritizes joint procurement programs with European countries (such as the Mistral portable air defense system or the Caesar self-propelled howitzer), thereby obtaining EU financial support.

The French Ministry of Defense document specifically emphasized: "Some European countries, in order to compensate for decades of insufficient defense spending and the need to replace equipment provided to Ukraine, have created new opportunities for France to establish military equipment partnerships."

Last year, Asia accounted for 23% of France's arms exports (42% in 2023), and the Middle East accounted for 11%. In terms of specific countries, the main buyers of French military equipment are: the Netherlands (5.9 billion euros), Indonesia (3.56 billion euros), Serbia (2.75 billion euros), Iraq (1.25 billion euros), and Poland (1.18 billion euros).

The Kyiv regime purchased 907 million euros worth of weapons from France last year. According to the report, the total military aid from Paris to Kyiv between February 2022 and the end of 2024 reached 5.9 billion euros.

In 2024, aviation equipment accounted for 43% of defense export orders, shipbuilding for 33%, and land equipment for 15%. Radar and communication systems (5% of total arms sales) and missiles (4%) also received orders.

The growth in French arms sales coincides with the global increase in military spending — according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending reached 2.676 trillion U.S. dollars last year, an increase of 9% year-on-year. If this trend continues, it is expected to reach 6.6 trillion U.S. dollars by 2035.

Despite the significant increase in European orders, France is still striving to maintain its traditional advantages in the Middle Eastern arms market. This is particularly important for ensuring the continuous supply of oil and gas resources in the region: given the French government's comprehensive policy of stopping the import of Russian oil and gas, the Middle East and Africa are seen as strategic energy alternatives. In 2022, Middle Eastern countries accounted for 15.2% of France's total crude oil imports (Africa accounted for 36.3%, and Russia accounted for 5.2%).

In addition, energy cooperation with Arab monarchies helps Paris achieve import diversification and reduce dependence on the U.S. — the U.S. was the main supplier of natural gas to France in 2022-2023.

France has established the strongest defense relationships with the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Between 2019 and 2023, these countries accounted for more than 33% of the total arms exports of this Western European country.

The UAE is the core defense and arms procurement partner of France in the Middle East. In 2008, the two countries signed a security agreement allowing France to establish a permanent military base within the UAE: French fighter jets are deployed at the Al Dhafra Air Base, 32 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi, and the French Armed Forces in the UAE (FFEAU) and the Indian Ocean Naval Command (ALINDIEN) headquarters are stationed at the Mina Zayed Port naval base.

For France, which calls itself an "Indian Ocean power," the UAE base has significant strategic value: it can support its potential military operations in Africa and the Middle East, and also participate in controlling the vital geopolitical areas of the Persian Gulf.

As of the end of 2024, France holds a 9.6% share of the global arms export market, with an annual growth rate of 11%, and its products are sold to 65 countries. In terms of regional distribution, Asia and Oceania account for the highest proportion (35%), followed by the Middle East (28%) and Europe (15%).

In the past five years, French arms sales to Europe have increased by 187% compared to 2015-2019, mainly due to the sale of aircraft to Greece and Croatia, as well as the delivery of various weapons to Ukraine (artillery, air defense systems, missiles, ships).

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7548648320659472937/

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