Global Military Spending Reached Record High in 2020 With US in the Lead

 

The US accounted for 40.3% of the world's military spending, the next highest was China at 10%

Dave DeCamp 

Posted onFebruary 25, 2021CategoriesNews

Despite the damage coronavirus lockdowns did to the world’s economy, 2020 marked a record high in global military spending, according to a new report. As always, the US was in the lead, accounting for 40.3 percent of the world’s military expenditures at $738 billion.

The report, released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), says total military expenditures added up to $1.83 trillion in 2020, a 3.9 percent increase from 2019. “This came despite the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent contraction in global economic output,” the IISS said.

Second behind the US was China, which accounted for 10.6 percent, or $193.3 billion. After the US and China, the top spenders were India, the UK, and Russia.

The report said military spending increased in the US by 6.3 percent in 2020. In China, it grew by 5.3 percent, slightly lower than the 5.9 percent growth seen in 2019.

European NATO countries have increased military spending by 20 percent since 2014, according to the report. Although in 2020, Europe’s military spending only grew by 2 percent, compared with 4.1 the year prior. But overall, IISS believes Europe could be where the most growth in defense spending is seen in the coming years.

https://news.antiwar.com/2021/02/25/global-military-spending-reached-record-high-in-2020-with-us-in-the-lead/