Despite the pandemic and recession, countries still spend more than 2 trillion USD on military
China’s DF-41 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile at Tiananmen Square in Beijing during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2019 – Photo: AFP
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published on April 25, the total military global growth of 0.7% (in real terms) in 2021, reaching $ 2.113 billion, the highest in history.
Globally, the US, China, India, UK and Russia lead the list of world defense spending in 2021, respectively.
At the regional level, China, India, Japan and Australia are the group of countries that lead in defense spending in 2021 in the Asia-Pacific region.
Notably, Russia’s defense spending increased by 2.9% to $65.9 billion for the third year in a row, under the influence of the tense situation surrounding Ukraine, as well as in anticipation of threats. security from Western countries.
Diego Lopes da Silva, senior fellow at SIPRI, said defense spending accounts for 4.1 percent of Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP), “much higher than the world average” and makes Moscow became the fifth largest military spender in the world.
Revenue from oil and gas exports has helped Russia boost military spending in 2021. The SIPRI expert believes that Russia will increase spending later this year.
In addition, Ukraine’s military spending has increased by 72% since Russia annexed Crimea. Many NATO countries have also increased their spending under US pressure.
Global and regional military spending from 1988 to 2021 – Source: SIPRI
In the opposite direction, US defense spending decreased by 1.4% compared to the same period in 2020, reaching $ 801 billion. However, US spending far exceeds China, the world’s second largest military spender with a figure announced by Beijing itself at about $ 293 billion.
In which, US spending on weapons procurement decreased by 6.4% over the same period, funding for technology research and development (R&D) projects increased by 24%.
“The increase in R&D spending between 2012 and 2021 shows that the US is focusing more on developing the next generation of advanced technologies.
The US government has repeatedly emphasized the need to maintain the military’s technological advantage over strategic competitors,” said Alexandra Marksteiner, a research fellow with the Arms Production Program. SIPRI’s gas and military spending, announced on April 25.
China’s military spending has grown for 27 consecutive years. In Japan, citizens are also seeing the highest annual increase in defense spending since 1972.
“The growing assertiveness of China’s moves in the South China Sea and East China Sea regions has become a key driver of military spending in countries such as Japan and Australia,” said senior research fellow. at SIPRI, Dr. Nan Tian, explains.
According to Reuters news agency, the European Union (EU) will seek to increase sales of European military equipment as well as restart negotiations on a free trade agreement with India during the visit. by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen.
Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25. EU officials say her visit is part of a Western effort to win India’s support in light of the hostilities in Ukraine.
The EU and India may also agree to restart free trade talks, which were frozen in 2013 over disagreements over tariff cuts and patent protection.
India, the world’s second most populous country with nearly 1.4 billion people, is considered by the EU as an important economic and security ally in the region.
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