Introduction: On April 22, 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its report “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023,” revealing that global military spending reached an all-time high of USD 2443 billion in 2023, a 6.8% increase from 2022. This marks the steepest year-on-year rise since 2009.
Top Military Spenders in 2023:
- United States: USD 916 billion (37% of world spending)
- China: USD 296 billion (12% of world spending)
- Russia: USD 109 billion (4.5% of world spending)
- India: USD 83.6 billion (3.4% of world spending)
- Saudi Arabia: USD 75.8 billion (3.1% of world spending)
Reasons for Increase: The rise in global military spending in 2023 was primarily driven by the Ukraine conflict and escalating tensions in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.
Indian Scenario:
- Expenditure: USD 83.6 billion, up by 4.2% from 2022 and 44% from 2014.
- Costs: Rising personnel and operations costs constitute nearly 80% of the budget.
- Domestic Procurement: 75% of capital outlays were allocated to domestically produced equipment, up from 68% in 2022, aligning with India’s self-reliance goals in arms development.
Global Highlights:
- Total Military Expenditure: 2.3% of global GDP in 2023.
- Government Spending: Average military spending as a share of government expenditure increased to 6.9%.
- Per Person Spending: Reached USD 306, the highest since 1990.
- Regional Spending:
- Americas: 41% of global spending.
- Asia and Oceania: 24% of global spending, with significant contributions from China and India.
- Europe: 24%
- Middle East: 8.2%
- Africa: 2.1%
Key Regional Insights:
- NATO: Members collectively spent USD 1341 billion, around 55% of global military spending.
- European Spending: Most European NATO members increased their spending, contributing 28% of the total.
- Significant Increases: Poland’s spending grew by 75% to USD 31.6 billion, ranking 14th globally.
Notable Changes:
- Largest Increases: Democratic Republic of the Congo (+105%), South Sudan (+78%), and Ukraine (+51%).
- Ukraine: Highest proportion of government expenditure on military spending (58%), with total spending at USD 64.8 billion.
- Saudi Arabia: Increased spending by 4.3% to USD 75.8 billion.
- China: Military spending rose for the 29th consecutive year, up by 6% to USD 296 billion.
About SIPRI:
- Chair of Governing Board: Stefan Löfven
- Director: Dan Smith
- Headquarters: Solna, Sweden
- Established: 1966
Additional Information:
- SIPRI Database: Provides data on military spending by country from 1949 to 2023.
- Recent Reports: Highlight India’s status as the world’s top arms importer (2019-2023) and the US approval of a significant drone sale to India.
Conclusion:
The SIPRI report underscores the unprecedented rise in global military expenditure, driven by geopolitical tensions and conflicts, with the United States and China leading the rankings. India remains a significant spender, focusing on enhancing its domestic defense capabilities.
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