Amid calls for arms embargo, who supplies Israel's weapons? – DW – 05/26/2025

DW

4 days ago

Spain calls for arms embargo on Israel as Gaza violence escalates — but real pressure would require action from three major weapons exporters.
Spain has asked European countries to suspend arms shipments to Israel as international condemnation grows over its conduct in Gaza.
At a meeting of the "Madrid Group" hosted by the Spanish government, the host country's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an immediate suspension of Europe's cooperation deal with Israel.
He also called for an embargo on arms shipments.
"We must all agree on a joint arms embargo," said Albares prior to the conference. "The last thing the Middle East needs right now is weapons."
Among those at the meeting were representatives from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Morocco and Brazil and several intergovernmental organizations.
However, only a fraction of the nations represented at the Madrid Group meeting actually supply Israel with armaments.
Israel is also one of the world's top exporters of armaments, so it has a powerful internal supply of weaponry as well.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in March reported that Israel is the 15th biggest importer of arms globally, despite it being actively involved in conflict, accounting for less than two percent of global imports.
Its imports have also dropped by around 2.3% in the last five years, compared to the preceding period.
Crucially, three nations account for almost all of Israel's weapons supply: the United States, Germany and Italy.
United States is Israel's biggest arms supplier
By far, the US is the biggest arms supplier to Israel, both since the October 7 attacks and also historically.
Though its proportional supply has reduced over the last decade, it still accounted for about two-thirds of Israel's imports from 2020-2024, according to SIPRI.
This includes aircraft, armored vehicles and guided bombs.
Israel is also the top recipient of US aid historically, according to the US-based, nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
As well as a substantial economic contribution between 1946 and 2024, Israel has received $228 billion in military support from the US.
Today, most US foreign aid to Israel is military spending. This includes an existing agreement to provide $3.8 billion in support until 2028. Most aid provided by the US must be spent on the purchase of American military equipment and services, according to the CFR.
It's unlikely that the US will change its support for Israel. Attempts led by independent senator Bernie Sanders to withhold billions in military sales to Israel were rejected by the US Senate in both April 2025 and November 2024.
Germany will continue to provide Israel weapons
Germany is a long-time diplomatic and military supporter of Israel. From 2020-2024, Germany accounted for about a third of Israel's incoming arms supply, mostly naval frigates and torpedoes.
SIPRI researcher Zain Hussain told DW via email that "Israel has relied on Germany for […] naval capabilities" and that Israel has an incoming submarine order from Germany.
Germany's arms supply to Israel has also included armored vehicles, trucks, anti-tank weapons and ammunition.
And that is unlikely to change, despite Spain's calls for an embargo.
"As a country that understands Israel's security and existence as a core principle, Germany is always obliged to assist Israel," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Those comments came as German chancellor Frederich Merz told public broadcaster WDR he "no longer understands' Israel's objective in Gaza and that its actions could "no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas."
Despite his remark, any future restriction on Germay's arms supply would be a significant development. Germany provided more than €131 million ($137 million) in arms exports in 2024, according to government statistics. The figure in 2023 was €326 million.
Italy accounts for 1% of Israel's arms
Italy contributes around one percent of Israel's arms. But by Italian law, it is prohibited from doing so given the conflict.
The Italian government has been critical of Israel's actions, however reports last year found it continued to supply Israel following the commencement of hostilities in October 2023. That reportedly included €2.1 million ($2.4 million US) in the last quarter of 2023, during which Israel's offensive was under way. That was despite assurances from the Italian government that shipments had ceased.
Analysis performed on government accounts by Italian news outlet Altreconomia found Italy supplied €5.2 million in arms to Israel last year.
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Some EU nations have reduced their exports
Israel has no shortage of armaments either produced domestically or through its major backers. Despite pressure from European nations to adopt an arms embargo, Hussain said the most effective block would requires Israel's primary armorers to join.
"The USA and Germany are the most important suppliers of major arms to Israel. For there to be maximum pressure on Israel's major arms capabilities, these states would have to be involved in an arms embargo," Hussain said.
Some European nations have either stopped the supply of weaponry, or have suspended export licenses. These include France, Spain and the UK, though their contributions are less than 0.1% of Israel's total intake. However, a study of UK trade data, cited by The Guardian in May, found that the country sent Israel thousands of military items despite export ban.
However for Germany to heed Spain's call, a major change in US foreign policy would be required, said Catherine Gegout, an international relations researcher at the University of Nottingham, UK.
"I think there would be much more pressure on Germany if the US changed as well," Gegout told DW. "But I'm not sure the rest of the EU states [opposing arms] will be enough to change that special relationship with Israel."
Despite Germany's long-standing commitment to Israel, Gegout said its ongoing weapons supply is becoming a problem for the European Union.
"I think it's a gigantic problem for the EU that Germany is sending so many weapons," Gegout said.
She said Spain's attempt to implement an arms embargo serves both a direct and symbolic purpose for countries that may oppose Israel's activities in Gaza.
Edited by: Jess Smee