World Military Spending Resumes Upward Course, says SIPRI

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report announcing that world military expenditure had totalled almost $1.7 trillion in 2015, an increase of 1 per cent from the previous year.  The statistics indicates increasing growth in Asia, Oceania, Central and Eastern Europe and some states in the Middle East whilst spending decreased in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, it is noted that Western military spending has been coming to an end since the global economic crisis in 2009 as well as withdrawal of US and allied troops from Afghanistan however there are signs that this decline may be coming to an end with an increase in spending announced by the UK, France and Germany due to the threat of the Islamic State and concerns over Russia. Ultimately, according to SIPRI’s Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, military spending reflects contrasting trends.  Spending both reflects conflict in part of the worlds and also demonstrates a move away from oil-fuelled spending of the past decade.

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