Record Military Expenditure Worldwide
A recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has revealed significant insights into global military spending for the year 2025. According to the findings, Morocco has secured the second position in Africa for military expenditure, experiencing a notable increase of 6.6% compared to the previous year. This escalation in military spending by Morocco comes amidst ongoing tensions with Algeria regarding the status of Western Sahara, a contentious issue that continues to drive defense budgets in the region. Algeria, in turn, has ramped up its military spending by 11% in 2025, positioning itself at the forefront of African military expenditure with a budget reaching $25.4 billion.
The SIPRI report highlights that total military spending across Africa rose to $58.2 billion in 2025, marking an increase of 8.5%. On a global scale, countries around the world allocated approximately $2.9 trillion to military expenditures, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth driven by various international conflicts. The United States, China, and Russia accounted for over half of this total, with military expenditures amounting to $1.48 trillion. Despite a decrease in U.S. military spending, which fell by 7.5% to $954 billion, this reduction was largely offset by increased spending in Europe and Asia, reflecting a global environment characterized by rising military tensions.
Regional Arms Race and Geopolitical Implications
European nations, particularly those involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, played a pivotal role in this rise in military expenditure, with overall increases of 14% leading to a total of $864 billion spent. Analysts point to two main factors driving this trend: the persistent war in Ukraine and the United States' strategic pivot away from Europe, compelling European nations to assume greater responsibility for their own defense. Notably, Germany’s military budget surged by 24% to $114 billion, while Spain increased its military spending by an astonishing 50%, surpassing 2% of its GDP for the first time since 1994. Meanwhile, Russia’s military expenditure grew by 5.9% to $190 billion, and Ukraine’s spending increased by 20%, reaching $84.1 billion, which constituted a staggering 40% of its GDP.
As reported by hespress.com.
