The Sipri in Stockholm today published the annual report on armaments, lots of news.
Total world military spending rose to $ 1739 billion in 2017, a marginal increase of 1,1% in real terms as of 2016, according to new figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). China's military spending rose again in 2017, continuing an upward trend in spending that has lasted for more than two decades. Russia's military spending declined for the first time since 1998, while US spending remained constant for the second consecutive year.
"The continued global military spending is a cause for serious concern," said Ambassador Jan Eliasson, chairman of the SIPRI board. "It undermines the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts around the world."
After 13 consecutive years of increases from 1999 to 2011 and relatively unchanged spending from 2012 to 2016, total global military spending increased again in 2017. Military spending in 2017 represented 2,2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) global or $ 230 per person. "The increases in world military spending in recent years have been largely due to the substantial growth in spending by countries in Asia and Oceania and the Middle East, such as China, India and Saudi Arabia," said Dr Nan Tian, SIPRI researcher on the Military and Armed Expenditure Program (AMEX). "Globally, the burden of military spending is clearly shifting from the Euro-Atlantic region."
China drives the continued increase in expenditures in Asia and Oceania
Military spending in Asia and Oceania increased for the 29th consecutive year. China increased its military spending by 5,6% to $ 228 billion in 2017. China's spending as a share of world military spending increased from 5,8% in 2008 to 13% in 2017. India spent $ 63,9 billion on its armed forces in 2017, a 5,5% increase over 2016, while South Korea's spending of $ 39,2 billion increased by 1,7% between 2016 and 2017. "Tensions between China and many of its neighbors continue to drive the growth of military spending in Asia," said Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI AMEX program.
Spending falls sharply in Russia, but rises in Central and Western Europe
At $ 66,3 billion, Russia's military spending in 2017 was 20% lower than in 2016, the first annual decline since 1998. “Military modernization remains a priority in Russia, but the military budget has been limited by economic problems. that the country has been undergoing since 2014, ”Siemon Wezeman said.
Driven, in part, by the perception of a growing threat from Russia, military spending in Central and Western Europe increased in 2017, by 12 and 1,7 percent respectively. Many European states are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and, in that context, have agreed to increase their military spending. The total military spending of all 29 NATO members was $ 900 billion in 2017, or 52% of world spending.
Saudi Arabia's largest spending rises in the Middle East
Military spending in the Middle East increased 6,2% in 2017. Saudi Arabian spending increased 9,2% in 2017 following a fall in 2016. With spending of $ 69,4 billion, the 'Saudi Arabia had the third highest military spending in the world in 2017. Iran (19%) and Iraq (22%) also experienced significant increases in military spending in 2017. "Despite low oil prices, Armed conflicts and rivalries across the Middle East are driving the rise in military spending in the region, ”said Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI AMEX program. In 2017, military spending as a percentage of GDP (known as "military load") was highest in the Middle East, at 5,2%. No other region in the world has devoted more than 1,8 percent of GDP to military spending.
US spending is no longer declining
The United States continues to have the highest military spending in the world. In 2017, the United States spent more on its military than the next seven countries with the highest spending combined. At $ 610 billion, US military spending remained unchanged between 2016 and 2017. "The downward trend in US military spending that began in 2010 has ended," said Aude Fleurant, director of the SIPRI AMEX program. "US military spending in 2018 will increase significantly to support increases in military personnel and the modernization of conventional and nuclear weapons."
Other noteworthy developments
China made the largest absolute increase in spending ($ 12 billion) in the 2017 (at constant prices of the 2016), while Russia made the biggest decline (- $ 13,9 billion).
Military expenditures in South America increased by 4,1% in the 2017, mainly due to the significant increases of the two largest investors in the subregion: Argentina (+ 15%) and Brazil (+ 6,3%).
Military spending in Central America and the Caribbean fell 6,6% in 2017, largely due to Mexico's lower spending (down 8,1% from 2016).
Military spending in Africa fell by 0,5% in 2017, the third consecutive annual decline since peak spending in 2014. Algeria's military spending fell for the first time in more than a decade (down 5,2 % compared to 2016).
Seven of the 10 countries with the highest military cargo are in the Middle East: Oman (12% of GDP), Saudi Arabia (10% of GDP), Kuwait (5,8% of GDP), Jordan (4,8% of GDP), Israel ( 4,7% of GDP), Lebanon (4,5% of GDP) and Bahrain (4,1% of GDP).