London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Global military spending rises to $2 trillion despite pandemic

Global military spending rises to $2 trillion despite pandemic

Total global military expenditure rose to almost $2 trillion in 2020, an increase of 2.6 percent on 2019. The latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says that the five biggest spenders in 2020 were the United States, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Military spending by China grew for the 26th consecutive year while France for the first time spent more than 2 percent of its GDP on the military.

While the Covid-19 pandemic caused the global economy to shrink by 4.4 percent, world military spending increased by 2.6 percent - the biggest year-on-year rise in the military burden since the global financial and economic crisis in 2009.


Some countries, like Chile and South Korea, did reallocate part of their planned military spending to pandemic response, while others, including Brazil and Russia, spent considerably less than their initial military budgets for 2020.

But the biggest spender, the US, allocated an estimated $778 billion to its military, representing an increase of 4.4 percent on 2019.

With that, Washington accounted for 39 percent of total military expenditure in 2020.

This was the third consecutive year of growth in US military spending -under president Donald Trump - following seven years of continuous reductions under his predecessor Barack Obama.

SIPRI, which closely monitors the world's arms balance and military spending, also reported that:

*  Russia’s military expenditure increased by 2.5 percent in 2020 to reach $61.7 billion.

*  The UK became the fifth largest spender in 2020 with $59.2 billion.

*  Germany increased its spending by 5.2 percent to $52.8 billion, making it the seventh largest spender in 2020.

*  In addition to China, India ($72.9 billion), Japan ($49.1 billion), South Korea ($45.7 billion) and Australia ($27.5 billion) were the largest military spenders in the Asia and Oceania region. All four countries increased their military spending between 2019 and 2020 and over the decade 2011–20.

*  In sub-Saharan Africa, military spending increased by 3.4 per cent in 2020 to reach $18.5 billion. The biggest increases were made by Chad (+31 percent), Mali (+22 percent), Mauritania (+23 percent) and Nigeria (+29 percent), all in the Sahel region, as well as Uganda (+46 per cent).

US-China standoff


Particular attention should be given to US and China military standing as these countries are involved in an increasingly nasty confrontation.

Despite an increasingly persistent flow of reports suggesting that China is taking over world military domination, the US remains the world’s sole army superpower - by far.

The US's allocation of a $778 billion military budget in 2020 still far outranks China's $252 billion. But Beijing has upped military spending by 76 per cent between 2011 and 2020.

According to statistics published by the US Defense Manpower Data Center, the Pentagon employs a total of 2,923,477 people in military and civilian functions (on active duty as well as reserves), including 224,481 military personnel stationed in bases in 176 countries (not including troops in Afghanistan.)

Most of these are small posts, manned by just a handful of people - so-called "lily pad" bases, but some US outposts are home to thousands.

Other military powers also expand outside their borders


Meanwhile, China has only one single military base abroad, with an estimated manpower of around 2,000 military personnel, while it established landing strips and a small military presence on several islands and shoals in disputed areas in the South China Sea.

France has some 30,000 troops abroad, divided over five military bases (Djibouti, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates,) two military operations (Chammal in the Middle East and Barkhane in Mali, Niger and neighbouring countries) as well as units participating in the EU, UN and Nato context.

And a recent study by the Polish Institute of New Europe suggests that the Russian military presence abroad, after a long decline of bases, is on the rise again.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×