Germany’s 2023 arms exports hit a record $12.8 billion as of mid-December, with the bulk of sales going to Ukraine, according to preliminary figures for the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, as reported by Defense News.
Total exports included weapons valued at $6.6 billion and $6.2 billion listed as “other defense articles.” The previous record was posted in 2021 at $10.2 billion.
Kyiv’s slice of the arms deliveries was estimated at over $4.4 billion worth, compared with $2.4 billion in 2022.
Israel’s war against Hamas also propelled Tel Aviv to Germany’s top 10 arms export markets, with $353.1 million in sales in 2023 rising tenfold from 2022, the German federal media network ARD reported.
The other leading destinations are Norway with $1.2 billion in purchases, Hungary with $1.1 billion, the United Kingdom with $715.6 million and the United States with $595.4 million.