U.S. military equipment exports hit record high in 2024

Exports of US military equipment to foreign countries in 2024 increased by 29% to a record $318.7 billion, according to the State Department's report "Arms transfer and US defense trade in fiscal year 2024".

It is specified that the increase in arms exports is due to the need for countries to replenish the stocks sent to Ukraine. Direct sales by U.S. companies amounted to $200.8 billion, while the volume of trade organized through the U.S. government reached $117.9 billion.

The State Department noted that the arms sales are seen as "an important tool of US foreign policy with potential long-term implications for regional and global security."

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Earlier, on January 22, US leader Donald Trump said that Washington was studying the issue of further arms deliveries to Kiev. He also noted that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would take place "very soon".

At the same time, the US leader threatened to raise taxes and impose new sanctions on Russian exports to the US if the conflict in Ukraine is not resolved soon. He called the "deal" a favor he was doing for Russian Federation. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said Moscow first needs to find out what constitutes a "deal" in Trump's understanding.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian president on February 24, 2022, is ongoing. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.