Ukraine maintained its position as the leading recipient of German defense exports last year, according to a report released by the economy ministry. The report highlights the significant military support Germany has provided to Ukraine in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia, amounting to approximately 2 billion euros (around $2.3 billion).
Following Ukraine, Norway and Sweden, both of which share concerns about potential threats from Moscow due to their geographical proximity, emerged as major recipients of German arms. Norway, a founding member of NATO, secured arms purchases totaling 1.3 billion euros (about $1.5 billion). Meanwhile, Sweden, which sought NATO membership in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and officially joined the alliance in March 2024, spent around 1 billion euros (approximately $1.1 billion) on weapons.
Although Finland also joined NATO in 2023 citing similar security concerns, it did not rank among the top ten buyers of German arms last year. The continued arms trade reflects the shifting geopolitical landscape in Europe and the increased emphasis on defense preparedness among nations neighboring Russia.
