Report: Global Military Spending Reached All-Time High in 2023

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Facts

• A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published Monday said global military expenditure totaled $2.443T in 2023 — an all-time high.¹
• Spending soared 6.8% in real terms relative to 2022, marking the largest annual increase since 2009 — which was also the last year military expenditure increased in all five geographical regions defined by SIPRI.¹
• The US continued to account for most of the world’s spending at 37%, while China, which increased its spending by 6%, made up 12% of global military spending. Nan Tian, of SIPRI, said the rise is due to a 'global deterioration in peace and security.'²
• At $916B, the US pays 68% of NATO's $1.341T expenditure, but some of the alliance’s European members have increased their spending. Meanwhile, Japan and Taiwan each increased spending by 11% amid simmering tensions with China.¹
• Russia, the third highest, and Ukraine saw large increases relative to 2022 at 24% and 51%, respectively. Meanwhile, Poland had the largest increase at 75%. Middle Eastern tensions spurred increases in the region, as Israel's spending jumped to $27.5B, a 24% increase.³
• While wars in Gaza and Ukraine led to the expected increases in Europe and the Middle East, analysts were surprised by increases in Latin America and Africa. Military spending in those regions is often used to combat widespread organized crime and gang violence.⁴

Sources: ¹SIPRI, ²Guardian, ³CNBC and ⁴Dw.Com.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by AntiWar. This report confirms what we already knew about the increase in global military spending led by the US' outdated, neoconservative foreign policy. For the past two years, the US has been funding a proxy war with Russia that has killed thousands of Ukrainians and now it's allowing Israel to instigate a war with Iran that could bring mass destruction. It's time for the US to stop its endless thirst for war.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. There's been an erosion of diplomacy across the world, led by Russia and Iran's aggression. That has left the free world with little choice but to increase military spending in order to, among other things, help Ukraine fend off Russia. While peace is the ultimate goal, there must be increased commitment to security during these troubling times. The rules-based world order must be fostered and reinforced.

Predictions