In 2021, the record of world arms spending was broken. In this, a new one is possible
This year, the record of global arms spending will be broken, writes Rzeczpospolita. Demand in the defense industry has grown enormously due to the conflict in Ukraine. The United States spent the most on weapons. Russia closes the top five. Analysts doubt whether Moscow will be able to keep spending at the current level due to sanctions.
Hubert the Goat
In 2021, global arms spending reached a record level of $2.11 trillion, according to calculations by the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
States around the world have increased spending on weapons by 0.7%. They have been growing for seven years in a row. SIPRI analysts predict that the current year will be a record again. Demand in the defense industry has grown enormously due to the conflict in Ukraine.
The United States spent the most. In 2021, they allocated $801 billion, but these costs are 1.4% less than in the past. China is still in second place with $293 billion. This is 4.7% more than in 2020, and Chinese arms spending has been growing for the 27th year in a row. The next positions are occupied by India (76.6 billion dollars), Great Britain (68.4 billion dollars) and Russia (65.9 billion dollars). Russian arms spending increased by 2.9% and amounted to 4.1% of the country's GDP.
— It is difficult to say whether Russia will keep spending on weapons at a similar level. Sanctions are tougher now than in 2014, but high energy prices may help Moscow maintain its position," said Diego Lopez Da Silva, an analyst at SIPRI.
The top ten countries with the highest military spending included France ($56.6 billion), Germany ($56 billion), Saudi Arabia ($55.6 billion), Japan ($54.1 billion) and South Korea ($50.2 billion). Poland ranks twentieth (between the Netherlands and Taiwan) with $13.7 billion. Ukraine is outside the top thirty. Its defense spending last year reached $5.9 billion, which amounted to 3.2% of the country's GDP. Since the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014, Ukrainian military spending has increased by 72%.
Of the European NATO countries last year, only eight fulfilled the promise to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. However, since the annexation of Crimea, there has been some progress on this issue. In 2014, there were only two countries in the group of European NATO members that spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.
— Spending in Europe has already been growing, and this trend will accelerate. Usually, changes occur slowly until a crisis occurs, after which they proceed at a higher pace. I think we are at exactly this moment right now," says Lucy Beraud—Soudreau, director of the SIPRI Weapons program.
