US military spending up for first time in 7 years
US military spending has risen for the first time in seven years, reflecting Trump administration policy, according to a new report released 29 April by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Worldwide military spending also rose by 2.6% to $1.8 trillion overall last year, SIPRI calculated.
It was the second year running the global figure has risen, bringing military spending to its highest level since 1988.
‘The increase in US spending was driven by the implementation from 2017 of new arms procurement programmes under the Trump administration,’ said Aude Fleurant, director of SIPRI's Arms and Military Expenditure (AMEX) programme.
The US figure alone of $649 billion was as much as the next eight highest military budgets.
But Chinese as well as US spending helped push the overall spending figures for the year higher, said the report.
China's spending has risen 83% since 2009, bringing it up to second place, ahead of Saudi Arabia, India - which is modernising its armed forces - and France.
China has spent 1.9% of its gross domestic output (GDP) on military spending since 2013.
Russia meanwhile dropped out of the top five spenders, with its military budget declining since 2016, said the report.
Western countries' economic sanctions against Russia, in place since 2014 because of its conflict with Ukraine, have hit the country's military budget.
In Ukraine itself meanwhile, military spending rose 21% on the previous year to $4.8 billion, SIPRI calculated.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent]()
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
![UK begins process on new industrial strategy]()
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
![Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west]()
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
![What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration]()
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
![RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific]()
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
![Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard]()
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
