US arms exports to fall in 2021 by 21%

The volume of US arms exports under interstate and private contracts fell in fiscal year 2021 from $175 billion to $138 billion, according to data from the US State Department.

It is noteworthy that the total amount of intergovernmental contracts approved by the State Department for the supply of arms in 2021 amounted to 34.81 billion dollars, and the value of similar contracts in the private sector amounted to 103.4 billion dollars.

In 2020, these numbers were $50.78 billion and $124.3 billion, respectively. The total amount was about 175 billion dollars, which means a decrease in the volume of exports by about 21%.

American experts hope that the policy of Donald Trump, who was ready to sell weapons to the whole world for profit, will end. This is indicated by President Joe Biden’s intention to renegotiate deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, it is very likely that Washington’s approach will remain.

Arms control advocates who still want more transparency and a rethink of Donald Trump’s policies believe that US supplies should be guided by humanitarian considerations.