Global military expenditures reached a record 2.443 billion dollars last year, which is an increase of 6,8 percent compared to 2022 and the biggest jump in inter-annual spending since 2009, the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI) announced yesterday.
SIPRI's latest report on Total Military Expenditure in the World states that it is the ninth year in a row that military expenditure has increased, with expenditure increasing in all five geographical regions defined by SIPRI, especially in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. to the east, Beta reported.
Military spending accounted for 2,3 percent of global gross domestic product.
SIPRI analysts indicated that the increase in military expenditures is directly related to the deteriorating situation in the field of security and peace in the world.
"States prioritize military strength, but at the same time risk a cycle of actions and reactions in an increasingly fragile geopolitical and security environment," said SIPRI expert on military spending and arms production Nan Tian.
The top ten countries in military spending, led by the US, China and Russia, India and Saudi Arabia all increased spending.
NATO members participated in total military expenditures with 55 percent, or 1.341 billion dollars.
"For European NATO members, the last two years of war in Ukraine have fundamentally changed the security perspective," SIPRI researcher Lorenzo Skaracato told Reuters.
Only the USA allocated 2,3 percent more money for military needs than in 2022, or 916 billion dollars, which was 68 percent of the total military expenditures of the entire alliance. The US spent about three times more on military equipment than China, which is in second place.
The biggest consumers in 2023 are the USA, China and Russia
The European members of the alliance all together participated in the spending with 28 percent, or 407 billion dollars, which is the highest in the past ten years. The remaining four percent is accounted for by Turkey and Canada.
In Europe, Great Britain and Germany had the largest military expenditures, which are in sixth and seventh place in the world in terms of military expenditures in 2023. Great Britain spent 74,9 billion in the field of defense, and Germany 66,8 billion.
Poland allocated 31,6 billion for military needs, which is an increase of 75 percent and by far the largest increase in military expenditures in Europe. A large increase in military expenditures was also recorded in Finland, which became the 31st member of NATO.
Finland allocated 35 billion dollars for the strengthening of military capacities and the procurement of modern weapons systems and F-7,3 fighter jets, which is a jump of 51 percent compared to 2022.
Russian military expenditures increased by 24 percent to an estimated $109 billion, which is 57 percent more than a decade ago - in 2014. In 2023, military expenditures accounted for 16 percent of total public spending in Russia, and 5,9 percent GDP.
Because of the war, Ukraine has risen to eighth place in the world in terms of military expenditure. A jump in military spending of a full 51 percent made its expenditures reach 64,8 percent last year. That amount represents 58 percent of total public spending and 37 percent of GDP.
For European NATO members, the last two years of war in Ukraine have fundamentally changed the security perspective
Although Ukraine's military expenditures accounted for 59 percent of Russia's military expenditures, accounting for at least $35 billion in foreign aid, its military spending reached 91 percent of Russia's.
Looking at geographic regions, the countries of North and South America had the largest military expenditures with a total of about 1.009 billion dollars, or 41 percent of global expenditures, with Central America, the Caribbean, and South America lagging far behind North America.
In Central America and the Caribbean, the biggest driver of military spending, which increased by 54 percent compared to 2014, was the fight against organized crime.
Asia and Oceania and Europe follow with 24 percent each, then the Middle East with 8,2 percent ($200 billion) and Africa with 2,1 percent of total military expenditures in the world ($51,6 billion).
However, the largest percentage increase in military expenditures was recorded in 2023 precisely in Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo it was 105 percent, and in South Sudan 78 percent.
Viewed as a share of GDP, or the "burden" of military expenditures, the Middle East bore the brunt with 4,2 percent of regional GDP. Europe (2,8 percent), Africa (1,9 percent), Asia and Oceania (1,7 percent) and America (1,2 percent) follow.
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