The United States remains the world’s dominant exporter of weapons. Between 2017–2021, the U.S. share of the global arms market was 108 percent greater than that of Russia, which is the second-largest exporter. Since 2009, the United States has approved more than $1 trillion in weapons sales and delivered roughly $736 billion worth of weapons to 167 countries during the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.

A new Cato Institute update to the Arms Sales Risk Index evaluates the risk that these exports create for global human rights, international stability, and U.S. security.

Representative Sara Jacobs (D‑CA), Cato’s Jordan Cohen, and Jeff Abramson from the Arms Control Association will discuss the 2021 Arms Sales Risk Index and current efforts to weigh and mitigate risks that the sale of U.S. weapons can pose. The discussion will be moderated by Cato’s Eric Gomez.