The war in Ukraine and the increase in geopolitical tensions last year have caused the Largest increase in global military spending since 2009: This is the data that emerges from the analysis of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Investments in weapons reached the record figure of 2,290 billion euros, 6.8% more in real terms compared to 2022 and 2.3% of global GDP. An expense monopolized by the USA and NATO.
The undisputed dominance is of the United States with an investment of 860 billion euros2.3% more, and 37% of global spending (three times higher than that of China, second in the ranking), 68% of the spending of the 31 NATO member countries.
The study also highlights the increase in defense investments of European NATO countries, which now represent 28% of those of the entire Alliance, the highest level in a decade, with eleven of them above the commitment of 2 % of GDP. Among these, Poland stands out which, with an annual increase of 75%, records the highest annual increase in Europe. It should be noted that the total expenditure of the members of the NATO amounted to 1,260 billion euros, 55% of the world total.
“The last two years of war in Ukraine have radically changed the perspectives of European states on security. This change in the perception of the threat is reflected in the allocation of growing shares of GDP to military spending”, writes SIPRI. There Russiathird in the world ranking, has allocated an estimated amount of 102 billion euros, 4.5% globally and 24% more on an annual basis, or 5.9% of its GDP. Ukraine, the world’s eighth largest arms investor, increased its spending by 51% to over 60 billion euros, a third of its GDP. With the nearly 32 billion euros in military aid received, Ukraine significantly narrowed the gap with Russia, and total Ukrainian military spending was 91% of Moscow’s.
Greater investments have also been recorded in Asia and the Middle East. China spent almost 278 billion euros, 6% more and 12% of the total, or half of the investments in the Asia-Oceania region, according to Sipri. Therefore, Japan (ranked tenth) increased its military spending by 11% and Taiwan also increased by 11%.
The Middle East recorded the largest increase in a decade of 9%, with Saudi Arabia (fifth) as the regional leader, followed by Israel (15th), which increased its spending by 24% due to its offensive in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacks last October.
“The large increase in military spending in the Middle East in 2023 reflects the rapidly changing situation in the region, from improving diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries in recent years to the outbreak of a major war in Gaza and fears of regional conflict “, we read again in the document.
In Central America and the Caribbean, spending increased (+54% in 2023) due to the fight against organized crime. The sad record belongs to Brazil, the eighteenth country in the world, with spending of 21.5 billion euros, 3.1% more.