Conflicts push military spending to 'all-time high' - REPORTS

Conflicts 09:33 22.04.2024

Global military expenditure saw its steepest increase in over a decade in 2023, reaching an all-time high of $2.4 trillion as wars and rising tensions fuelled spending across the world, researchers said Monday, Ednews informs via AFP.

Military spending rose across the globe with particularly large increases in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

"Total military spending is at an all-time high ... and for the first time since 2009, we saw spending increase across all five geographical regions," Nan Tian, a senior researcher at SIPRI, told AFP.

Military spending rose by 6.8 percent in 2023, the "steepest year-on-year increase since 2009," according to the report.

"It's a reflection of the deterioration of peace and security around the world. There's really not a region in the world where things have gotten better," Tian said.

The United States, China, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia were the top five spenders, respectively.

The continuation of the war in Ukraine led to an increase in spending by Ukraine, Russia, and "a whole host" of European countries, Tian said.

Russia boosted spending by 24 percent, reaching $109 billion in 2023, according to SIPRI's estimates.

Since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea, the country's military spending has risen by 57 percent.

Ukraine's military spending rose by 51 percent, reaching $64.8 billion, but the country also received $35 billion in military aid, of which the majority came from the US, meaning the combined aid and spending equaled over nine-tenths of Russia's spending.

Tian noted that while Moscow's and Kyiv's overall budgets were relatively close in 2023, Ukraine's military spending equalled 37 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) and 58 percent of all government spending.

By contrast, in Russia, which has a larger economy, military spending amounted to just 5.9 percent of its GDP.

"So the room for Ukraine to increase its spending is now very limited," Tian said.

In Europe, Poland saw the largest increase in military spending by far, up by 75 percent to $31.6 billion.

Spending also rose across the Middle East, where Israel -- the region's second-largest spender -- saw a 24-percent increase, to $27.5 billion in 2023 -- mainly driven by the country's offensive in Gaza in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest spender, also upped its spending by 4.3 percent to an estimated $75.8 billion.

The US -- which spends more on its military than any other nation -- increased spending by 2.3 percent to $916 billion.

China boosted spending on its military for the 29th straight year, raising it by another six percent to an estimated $296 billion.

Beijing's military build-up and worsening tensions in the region have prompted its neighbours to dedicate more funds to their militaries.

Japan spent $50.2 billion last year and Taiwan $16.6 billion, an increase of 11 percent for both countries.

The world's fourth largest spender, India, meanwhile hiked spending by 4.3 percent, to $83.6 billion.

In Central America and the Caribbean, spending increases were instead driven by other struggles, such as fighting organised crime.

For instance, the Dominican Republic upped spending by 14 percent in response to worsening gang violence in neighbouring Haiti spilling over the border.

Africa also saw military budgets swell.

The Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled its spending (+105 percent) to $794 million, the largest percentage increase of any nation, as tensions grew with neighboring Rwanda.

With an increase of 78 percent, South Sudan saw the second-largest increase, to $1.1 billion.

With the war in Ukraine being "nowhere close to an end," as well as the current situation in the Middle East and heightened tensions in Asia, Tian said he believed countries were likely to continue boosting their militaries.

"The expectation is that this increasing trend will continue for at least a few years to come," he said.

 

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

EU to provide Kyiv with €30.6B in support in 2025
16:40 27.06.2025
Simon Stiell calls for global cooperation in face of climate crisis
16:00 27.06.2025
IDF says fighter jets struck Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon
15:40 27.06.2025
President Ilham Aliyev received credentials of incoming ambassador of Poland
15:05 27.06.2025
Masked Special Forces of Armenia's National Security Service enter territory of Garegin II’s residence
14:55 27.06.2025
Hungary blocks talks on Ukraine’s accession to EU
14:35 27.06.2025
Israel sums up operation against Iran: 11 scientists, about 300 IRGC members killed
14:05 27.06.2025
Trump says his duties bring US $88B in revenue
13:55 27.06.2025
Snow falls in world’s driest desert in Chile
13:25 27.06.2025
Release from the Press Service of the President
13:00 27.06.2025
Australia to prioritize 'national interest' over defense spending, says premier, resists US pressure
12:35 27.06.2025
Chairman of Committee: 'There are broad, strong ties of cooperation, solidarity among religious confessions in Azerbaijan'
12:25 27.06.2025
Price of Azerbaijani oil grows over 1%
12:05 27.06.2025
Over 60 foreigners evacuated from Iran through territory of Azerbaijan
11:45 27.06.2025
European Championship: Azerbaijani judokas win 6 medals on first day
11:25 27.06.2025
UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies’ 62nd session (SB62) concludes today
11:05 27.06.2025
Mukhtar Babayev: New NDCs can be a green light for green investments
10:55 27.06.2025
Former UN General Assembly president presents poem about Nizami Ganjavi at London Climate Action Week
10:35 27.06.2025
WHO delivers 1st medical shipment to Gaza since March 2, calls it 'drop in ocean'
10:20 27.06.2025
Polish lawmakers vote to withdraw from anti-landmine treaty
10:05 27.06.2025
At least 16 killed, 400 injured in Kenya protests: Amnesty International
09:55 27.06.2025
Elchin Amirbayov: South Caucasus faces both challenges, opportunities
09:35 27.06.2025
Senior clergyman under investigation for call for coup in Armenia
09:20 27.06.2025
Gen. Dan Caine: US strikes on Iran are 'culmination' of 15 years of planning
09:05 27.06.2025
Euronews: Baku is platform for global energy dialogue
21:35 26.06.2025
Turkish president believes Iran won't close Strait of Hormuz
21:05 26.06.2025
Boat sinking on Niger-Benin border kills 13
20:45 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye negotiating its return to F-35 program with partners
20:25 26.06.2025
Paris honors Azerbaijani heroes who fought in France's WWII resistance
20:05 26.06.2025
Global energy CO2 emissions hit new record in 2024
19:45 26.06.2025
UN special rapporteur calls planned election of Myanmar's military junta 'mirage'
19:35 26.06.2025
Iran's supreme leader threatens US
19:20 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye must create multi-layer air defense system
19:05 26.06.2025
Erdogan says Trump will join Ukraine peace talks in Türkiye if Putin attends
18:45 26.06.2025
Azerbaijan discusses wind energy projects with Chinese company
18:25 26.06.2025
Armenia arrests 15 people on charges of coup attempt
18:15 26.06.2025
EXPLAINER – War with Iran: Financial fallout for Israel, US
18:00 26.06.2025
Turkish president praises Trump for Iran-Israel ceasefire, urges similar push for Gaza, Ukraine conflicts
17:45 26.06.2025
Israeli attacks kill at least 21 people in Gaza, medics say
17:20 26.06.2025
Traditional meeting of EU leaders kicks off in Brussels
17:05 26.06.2025
Hamısı