Total military spending by nations reached a record high of $2.443 trillion in 2023, according to a new report released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI.
Across the globe, military expenditures increased by 6.8% in real terms over 2022, the steepest rise since 2009, according to the Swedish think tank which has tracked the military spending by countries based on open sources since the 1960s. Every region saw an increase, but Europe, Asia and Oceania, and the Middle East saw the greatest growth..
“The unprecedented rise in military spending is a direct response to the global deterioration in peace and security,” according to Nan Tian, the report’s senior author. “States are prioritizing military strength but they risk an action-reaction spiral in the increasingly volatile geopolitical and security landscape,” he added.
As in the recent past, the United States topped the list of military spenders at $916 billion. It was followed by China with an estimated $296 billion, Russia at an estimated $109 billion, and India at $83.6 billion
The US military budget is roughly equivalent to the next 9 largest military budgets combined, and most of those are our allies.
For a long time now it’s been a mechanism to transfer money from citizens to high technology industry.
And nobody blinks an eye.
The trillion-dollar budget to help people survive during COVID was considered as massive excessive spending that added to supply side inflation. Explain to me how this won't add to inflation, the budget deficit and isn't excessive. It took months to get COVID relief with much debate, but this goes through with none. May as well setup auto-pay to the Pentagon with automatic increases on the taxpayers behalf. Anybody need more proof that we are a military industrial complex?
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
Seeing the massive amounts spent by countries like the US and China on military, do you think there's a more effective way for nations to ensure their safety without escalating arms spending?
@9LR5DGF1wk1W
Yes, communication is the easiest and cheapest way to stop the wars
@9LR55HNRepublican 1wk1W
Debt is being overlooked as a whole and should be entirely looked and taken care of differently.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
How do you reconcile the need for national security with the potential benefits of redirecting some of that $2.5 trillion towards education, healthcare, or fighting poverty?
@9LR5J4R1wk1W
Internal social issues with people struggling with internal social issues shouldn't be the governments concern. Education, and healthcare. But poverty is always a choice determined by the person and their dedication and responsibilities. If we teach better responsibility and work ethic in schools, less would need to go on welfare, less would be clueless to the real world.
@9LR5G9D1wk1W
We should put some more money into education and healthcare but still put some into the military.
There is not enough money to fix our crumbling infrastructure, assume everyone has healthcare and shelter, protect social security and Medicare, but there never ever a limit to the money we have for weapons. The arms manufacturers I’m sure are enjoying our increased involvement in Ukraine and they can’t wait for us to get involved in yet another conflict somewhere. They’re smiling all the way to the bank.
The US is lagging behind in all things public: public schools are not funded fully, infrastructure is crumbling, no money to take care of homelessness, no universal healthcare, child poverty in record rates, no advanced public transport, and so on… But both parties are competing who can waist more budget on the military.
The cost of the Ukrainian war can be off-set by reducing the number of F-35s by 10 or 20 units. They apparently don't work very well, anyway. And there are probably many other offsets than that to be found. It's time to start reducing the military budget by at least a few percent each year.
Our defense budget is one of the reasons we can't have Medicare for all. We don't have money for anything the people want, but always have more money to hand over for jets, ammo, and now artillery. The CIA and State Dept. follow policies designed to create more wars, leading to higher profits.
Peace is free. But it's not profitable. It seem as if diplomacy is often avoided these days in favor of conflict. Especially when both sides are in the pocket of industries that stand to profit by it.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
What are your thoughts on the idea that increasing military spending could lead to an 'action-reaction spiral' in global conflicts?
@9LRBRNS1wk1W
It is necessary to prevent bad actors from taking opportunities to bully smaller nations.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
Considering the record high military spending globally, do you think such expenditures help protect nations or provoke more conflicts?
@9LRFR4X1wk1W
both. depends on how other countries pose their views
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