Middle East emerges as Korea's key arms export market
Middle Eastern nations have become increasingly important customers for Korea as it seeks to position itself among the world’s top arms exporters, according to a recent research paper. A study published earlier this month by the Export-Import Bank of Korea, titled "Trends in the Middle Eastern Defense Industry and Implications," noted that Middle Eastern countries now account for roughly one-third of global weapons imports. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait rank among the world's top 10 arms buyers, driven in part by persistent geopolitical tensions across the region. Defense spending in major Middle Eastern nations surged to $220.6 billion last year, or about 9.5 percent of global military expenditures. Many governments in the region increased their defense budgets compared with the previous year, with an average growth rate of 15.6 percent. "Middle Eastern nations have shown strong interest in Korean defense companies for their competitive pricing, reliable delivery and the expandability of Korean weapons systems compared with U.S. and European options" the report said. It added tWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times
Quelle: Korea Times