The world is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration in military spending, projected to reach an astounding $2.9 trillion by 2025, reflecting a real increase of 2.9% compared to the previous year. Amidst this global arms race fueled by geopolitical instability, North Africa has emerged as the focal point of continental militarization, driven primarily by the historical and escalating rivalry between Algeria and Morocco. This dynamic directly impacts Spain, as the relations with both nations are currently stable, yet they pose significant challenges to the security and defense of the Iberian Peninsula.
According to the latest data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), both Maghreb nations have ramped up their defense budgets, albeit with drastically different strategies and proportions. The SIPRI findings reveal that Algeria has catapulted its military spending to dizzying heights, establishing itself as the highest spender on defense in Africa and ranking 20th globally. By 2025, Algeria's military budget reached a record $25.4 billion, marking an 11% increase from 2024.
The true implications of these figures become apparent when analyzing their weight on the national economy. Algeria currently allocates 8.83% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to military expenditures, making it the second-highest country worldwide in terms of military burden relative to its wealth, trailing only Ukraine, which is engaged in ongoing conflict (40%), and surpassing nations like Israel and Russia that are also in active conflict. Alarmingly, 25% of all public spending in Algeria is consumed by the military sector.
This obsession with militarization, which has seen Algeria increase its defense budget by 89% over the past decade, is financed primarily through hydrocarbon revenues (gas and oil). Experts suggest that this exorbitant spending reflects Algeria's ambition to assert itself as a military leader in the Maghreb and Africa, as well as a pressure tactic against Morocco regarding the Western Sahara conflict. Additionally, there is a pressing need to modernize an aging arsenal in light of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, this military buildup starkly contrasts with the country's internal economic fragility, characterized by youth unemployment, inflation, and shortages of basic goods and potable water.
On the other hand, while Morocco's military expenditures do not reach the staggering figures of its neighbor, it has also set its own historical records. In 2025, the Moroccan Kingdom spent $6.3 billion on defense, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. Comparatively, Morocco allocates four times less to its military budget than Algeria (with $6.3 billion versus $25.4 billion). However, Rabat's economic effort is significant; its military spending represents 3.54% of its GDP, positioning Morocco as the 15th country worldwide in terms of the proportion of wealth dedicated to this sector.
Morocco's strategy diverges from that of Algeria; rather than competing in sheer volume, Rabat focuses on quality and modernization. Its approach emphasizes the acquisition of state-of-the-art fighter jets, drones, intelligence systems, and strengthening strategic alliances, particularly with the United States, while also promoting the development of a local arms industry. Within Africa, Morocco firmly ranks as the second-highest spender on defense, following Algeria.
The push from Algeria and Morocco represents the primary engine of military spending on the continent. Total military expenditure in Africa increased by 8.5% in 2025, reaching $58.2 billion. When aggregating the spending from Algeria ($25.4 billion) and Morocco ($6.3 billion), these two Maghreb nations account for over half of the continent's total military expenditure. North Africa has undeniably established itself as the principal hub of military rearmament in the region. Notably, in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has also increased its military budget by 55% to $2.1 billion due to rising extremist violence.
Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, the contrast becomes stark. Spain has undergone unprecedented rearmament in 2025, increasing its military spending by 50% to $40.2 billion (approximately €34 billion). This surge, largely driven by commitments to meet NATO's demands, has allowed Spain to elevate its military expenditure above 2% of its GDP for the first time since 1994.
In comparative terms, Spain's economic muscle is significantly greater; it spends nearly double what Algeria does on defense and over six times more than Morocco in absolute terms ($40.2 billion compared to Algeria's $25.4 billion and Morocco's $6.3 billion). However, the militarization of the economy presents a diametrically opposed picture. While Spain ranks 51st globally in terms of the percentage of GDP allocated to defense (just over 2%), Algeria (8.83%) and Morocco (3.54%) occupy the 2nd and 15th positions, respectively, severely straining their public finances.
It is also important to note that the relationship between Spain and Morocco extends beyond mere proximity and oversight. Spanish military exports to Morocco have surged by over 40%, highlighted by the construction of an ocean patrol vessel by the public company Navantia, which is set to be delivered in mid-2026.
In conclusion, the SIPRI 2025 report paints a picture of a Maghreb embroiled in military turmoil. While Algeria sacrifices its civil development to maintain a war-centric economy that guarantees regional superiority, Morocco counters with an asymmetric and focused modernization strategy. All of this unfolds on the doorstep of a Spain that, propelled by NATO's urgencies and the war in Western Europe, has also awakened its own investment muscle in defense.
As reported by infodefensa.com.
