U.S. Foreign Arms Sales Are Booming

The US accounted for more than half of the global arms market last year. (file photo)

New York Times: U.S. Foreign Arms Deals Increased Nearly $10 Billion in 2014

WASHINGTON — Foreign arms sales by the United States jumped by almost $10 billion in 2014, about 35 percent, even as the global weapons market remained flat and competition among suppliers increased, a new congressional study has found.

American weapons receipts rose to $36.2 billion in 2014 from $26.7 billion the year before, bolstered by multibillion-dollar agreements with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Those deals and others ensured that the United States remained the single largest provider of arms around the world last year, controlling just over 50 percent of the market.

Russia followed the United States as the top weapons supplier, completing $10.2 billion in sales, compared with $10.3 billion in 2013. Sweden was third, with roughly $5.5 billion in sales, followed by France with $4.4 billion and China with $2.2 billion.

Update #1: The U.S. Is Still No.1 at Selling Arms to the World (Time)
Update #2: U.S. foreign arms sales up $10 billion (The Hill)
Update #3: US Foreign Weapons Agreements Rose Almost $10 Billion in 2014 (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: I will not be surprised that when the 2015 numbers have been added up, these  numbers will be even greater.