Britain -- not USA -- now the world’s biggest arms exporter

Britain was the world’s biggest arms seller last year, accounting for a third of global arms exports, the Government’s trade promotion organization said. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) said that arms exporters had added $18.8 billion in new business last year, giving them a larger share of global arms exports than the United States.

UKTI said that the figures were boosted by orders for Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest arms buyer, which has imported $31 billion in weapons over the past five years.

The US is still the world’s biggest exporter over the past five years, with $63 billion in total arms exports.

Britain was second with $53 billion, and Russia third with $33 billion.

[The Times]