Greece tops European arms importer ranks

Greece was Europe’s largest importer of arms between 2007 and 2011, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released on Monday.

Arms imports by Greece fell 18 percent compared to the 2002-06 period but Greece still ranked 10th internationally, falling from fourth place.

Globally the volume of international transfers of major conventional weapons was 24 percent higher in the period 2007-11 compared to 2002-06, largely due to a sharp rise in Indian arms imports, the report said.

The United States, Russia, Germany, France and Britain are the world’s top arms exporters.

Germany’s biggest market for arms exports is Greece, which imported 13 percent of weapons produced in Germany.

Greece is France’s second-biggest client, importing 10 percent of French arms exports.

Ekathimerini.com