World arms sales up 14 percent in past 5 years, led by US

HELSINKI – A Swedish think-tank says global arms exports increased 14 percent during the five years to 2015, with the U.S. retaining top position after its sales grew 27 percent from the previous five-year period.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says sales from the next biggest exporters, Russia and China, also increased but fell for numbers 4 and 5, France and Germany.

The top five exporters accounted for 74 percent of all arms sales, with the U.S. and Russia supplying a total of 58 percent.

The think-tank said in its report Monday that China saw the largest growth during the five-year period of 88 percent.

The five biggest weapons importers were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.