World military spending for the first time exceeded $ 2 trillion per year. Russia in fifth place

The total volume of global military expenses for the first time exceeded $ 2 trillion per year, follows from the report of the Stockholm International Institute for Research Problems (Sipri). Russia took fifth place, its expenses increased by 3% and amounted to $ 65.9 billion. This is 2.9% more than a year earlier. According to the report, Russia's expenses were reduced on defense from 2016 to 2019 under the pressure of sanctions imposed after the accession of Crimea, but went up in 2021 due to high incomes from the sale of oil and gas.

The US defense costs in 2021 became the United States, which spent more than $ 800 billion. At the same time, the Americans reduced military spending by 1.4% in relation to 2020. Over the past ten years, the United States has increased investments in military research and development (this article has increased by 24%) and reduced the expenses for the purchase of ready -made weapons (–6.4%).

The second place was taken by China, a continuously increasing defense budget for the past 27 years. The PRC accounts for about 14% of all military spending in the world. Last year, Beijing spent about $ 293 billion, which is 4.7% more than in 2020. The five leaders in military expenses also included India ($ 76.6 billion, +0.9%) and Great Britain ($ 68.4 billion, +3%).

The military expenses of Ukraine began to quickly increase after 2014, when Crimea was annexed and hostilities began in the east of the country. By 2021, expenses increased by 72%. However, last year, 8.5% less were spent on defense ($ 5.9 billion).

In general, world military expenses have grown since 2015 amid the growth of international tension caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. Prior to this, in 2011-2014, expenses were reduced.

As explained by Bloomberg, the director of the Sipri program for military expenditures and the production of weapons Lucy Bero-Sudro, after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the growth of expenses for defense will definitely not stop. “There was already a tendency to growth in Europe, and this trend will accelerate and intensify,” she emphasized.

Some articles of military expenses are generally difficult to track, so they can be even higher. For example, a war in Ukraine showed that the weak places of the Russian Army are a poor organization of logistics, a weak use of secure communication, a lack of fuel and tires. “The expenses in these areas can be less noticeable, but the situation in Ukraine showed how important they are for war,” said Bero-Sudro.