In 2024, world military spending had their highest increase since the end of the Cold War – Liberation

Never, since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the planet had never increased its expenses so much to arm. This is what reveals The last report of the International Peace Research Institute of Stockholm (SIPRI), published this Monday, April 28. On resettlement NATO member countries due to a possible American disengagement From the transatlantic alliance, military spending (which include public spending for the armed forces, purchase of equipment, infrastructure, etc.) reached $ 2,718 billion (almost 2.4 billion euros) in 2024 in the world. A tenth year of consecutive increase and a jump of more than 9.4 % Compared to the 2,443 billion 2023.

This increase « unprecedented » concerns in particular Europe and the Middle East but we find at the top of this large ball of military budgets in the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India. At them, they concentrate 60 % of the world total, or $ 1,635 billion.

The United States retains the world’s first place in military spending, with a budget that increased by 5.7 % in 2024, reaching $ 997 billion. The country alone represents 37 % of global defense spending and 66 % of those of NATO member countries. According to the SIPRI, all members of the Alliance have considerably increased their budgets. « The total of their expenses amounts to $ 1,506 billion, or 55 % of world military spending »specifies the report. According to the methodology for calculating military expenditure of the SIPRI – which differs and does not include exactly the same categories of expenditure as that of NATO – out of the 32 members, 18 devoted at least 2.0 % of their GDP to their armed forces, against 11 the previous year.

Some European countries stand out. Germany’s military spending For example, have climbed 28 %, for a total of $ 88.5 billion and dethroning India in fourth in the world. « For the first time since its reunification, Germany has become the main contributor in defense in Central and Western Europe »observes Xiao Liang, researcher in the program « Military expenditure and production of weapons » Sipri. Poland It has also increased by 31 % its expenses to reach $ 38 billion in 2024, which represents 4.2 % of Polish GDP.

The war in Ukraine largely fuels this dynamic. Europe, Russia included, is the region to have put the most hand in the pocket in 2024: the military expenditure jumped there 17 %, reaching $ 693 billion in 2024. Russia alone devoted $ 149 billion to its army in 2024, up 38 %over a year, a level twice that of 2015. For its part, the Ukraine’s military budget, attacked by Russia, also increased by 2.9 %, reaching 64.7 billion. Although this represents only 43 % of the equivalent of Russian means, Ukraine recorded the heaviest military burden of all countries in 2024 with 34 % of its GDP dedicated to defense.

Further east, Israel, who continues his bombings in the Gaza Stripmade its military expenses jump by 65 % to 46.5 billion dollars – the greatest increase since the six -day war in 1967 which opposed it to its Arab neighbors, according to the Sipri. Conversely, those of Iran decreased by 10 % and represent $ 7.9 billion in 2024, « Despite its involvement in regional conflicts »points the Swedish institute, because « The impact of sanctions has strongly limited its ability to increase its expenses ».

In second position behind the United States, China, which invests in the Modernization of its armed forcesthe expansion of its capacities at cybernetic war and its nuclear arsenal now represents half of the military spending in Asia and Oceania. In 2024, it increased its military budget by 7 %, reaching 314 billion dollars.

These results reflect « Strong geopolitical tensions »considers Xiao Liang of the Sipri. More than 100 countries increased their defense budgets last year, the report said. The invoice, salty, will also have « A deep socio-economic and political impact »notes the analyst, because « Countries must make arbitrations in their budgetary choices ». “For example, we have seen many European countries reduce other budgetary positions, he detailslike international aid, in order to finance the increase in the means devoted to the army, (…) or even consider increasing taxes or going into debt. ”