Military expenses worldwide rise to 40-year high, report shows

Military expenses worldwide rise to 40-year high, report shows

Seoul, South Korea - according to a new report, the world has been arming itself as quickly as since the end of the Cold War. In view of the major wars in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip and increasing military tensions from Europe to Asia, experts do not expect relaxation in global upgrading.

worldwide armaments efforts are increasing dramatically

In 2024, global military spending rose to $ 2.718 trillion, which corresponds to an increase of 9.4 % compared to the previous year-the highest amount of the renowned Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) so far. This increase has been the highest since 1988, the year before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

USA at the head of military spending

The United States are by far the largest military editor in the world. In 2024, a sum of almost a trillion dollar is forecast. The largest budget posts include F-35-stealth combat jets and their combat systems with $ 61.1 billion, new ships for the US Navy with $ 48.1 billion, the modernization of the American nuclear weapons arsenal with $ 37.7 billion for $ 29.8 billion.

support for Ukraine

The US budget draft also provides for $ 48.4 billion in help for Ukraine, which makes up almost three quarters of Kiev's own defense budget of $ 64.8 billion.

china in the shadow of the USA

china follows the United States in the total editions with an estimated $ 314 billion, which corresponds to almost a third of the US expenses. The report does not break the expenses of Beijings according to weapon systems or commandos, but emphasizes that China presented several improved skills in 2024, including new stealth fighting aircraft, unmanned aircraft (UAVS) and unmanned underwater vehicles.

regional conflicts drive the expenditure

Especially countries that are involved in regional conflicts or are afraid of them were the highest increases in expenditure. Israel, which started an invasion of the Palestinian area Gaza in 2023, showed an astonishing increase in military spending by 65 % in 2024. Russia, which marched into Ukraine in 2022, also recorded an estimated increase of at least 38 %, whereby the Sipri points out that this number is probably higher, since Moscow increases its military funds with money from regional and other sources.

NATO members increase defense spending

The conflict in Ukraine, which has been going on for over three years, has caused NATO countries to significantly increase its defense budgets. Germany, with the fourth largest defense budget in the world, has increased its expenses by 28 %. Other NATO countries such as Romania (43 %), the Netherlands (35 %), Sweden (34 %), Czech Republic (32 %), Poland (31 %), Denmark (20 %), Norway (17 %), Finland (16 %), Turkey (12 %) and Greece (11 %) listed two-digit increase in defense spending in 2024.

challenges of military self -sufficiency

"The rapid increases in expenditure among the European NATO member states were mainly driven by the continued threat from Russia and concerns about a possible reversal within the alliance," explains Jade Guiberteau Ricard, researcher of the Sipri program for military spending and weapon production. However, analysts make it clear that more than just money is needed so that US allies in Europe can become militarily self-sufficient.

Asia in the armor run

in the Indo-Pacific, China has an increase in 7 %, which marks the 30th consecutive annual increase in expenses for the Volksbeselung Army-"the largest continuous series in the institute's database," said the report. Japan increased his military budget in 2024 by 21 %, which has been the greatest increase since 1952. This eliminates 1.4 % of the gross domestic product on military spending - the largest proportion of the Japanese economy that has been used for the military since 1958

military stress in the region

The Philippines, which are involved in territorial conflicts with China in the South China Sea, increased their defense spending by 19 %. Although the expenses in South Korea in 2024 only increased by 1.4 %, Seoul has the "highest military stress in East Asia" with 2.6 % of GDP, according to the institute.

India and Myanmar increase military spending

India had the world's five largest defense budget with $ 86.1 billion. The plus compared to 2023 is only 1.6 %, but defense spending has increased by 42 % in the past decade, which indicates a worrying trend. In Myanmar, which has been suffering from internal conflicts since a military coup in 2021, expenditure in 2024 rose by 66 %. With 6.8 % of GDP, Myanmar has the greatest military stress in the Asian-Pacific area.

armaments in Africa and America

In Africa, the 2024 military spending increased by 3 %. Algeria is the largest military editor in the continent and occupies 20th place worldwide. In America, Mexico in 2024 recorded an increase in military spending by 39 %, which reflects "the increasingly militarized reaction of the government to organized crime".