What's happened
Military expenditure has increased to $2.89 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth. The US, China, and Russia remain the top spenders, with Europe and Ukraine significantly boosting their military budgets amid ongoing conflicts. Spending as a share of global GDP has reached its highest since 2009.
What's behind the headline?
The rise in global military spending indicates a world that is increasingly less secure, with nations responding to ongoing conflicts and perceived threats. The US has reduced its expenditure slightly in 2025, but this decline is offset by surges in Europe and Asia, driven by the Ukraine war and regional security concerns. Europe's 14% increase, especially in Germany and Spain, reflects a strategic shift towards self-reliance in defense, partly due to decreased US engagement. Russia and Ukraine are both increasing their military budgets, with Ukraine allocating a staggering 40% of its GDP to defense, highlighting the intensity of the conflict. Meanwhile, China's consistent growth in spending underscores its long-term military ambitions. The overall rise in the share of GDP devoted to military efforts signals a global perception that security threats are intensifying, and nations are preparing for prolonged conflicts. This trend will likely continue as geopolitical tensions persist, forcing countries to allocate more resources to defense and potentially escalating arms races worldwide.
What the papers say
The articles from The Japan Times, France 24, and Reuters collectively highlight that global military expenditure has reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, with the US, China, and Russia remaining the top spenders. France 24 emphasizes Europe's 14% surge driven by the Ukraine war and US disengagement, while Reuters notes the consistent growth over 11 years and the highest share of GDP since 2009. The differing focuses illustrate that while the US has reduced its spending, regional conflicts and strategic shifts are fueling overall increases, especially in Europe and Asia. The articles collectively demonstrate that global military spending is responding to ongoing conflicts and geopolitical shifts, with a clear trend towards higher resource allocation for defense worldwide.
How we got here
Global military spending has been rising steadily over the past decade, driven by ongoing conflicts, regional tensions, and shifting defense policies. The US has historically been the largest spender, but recent years have seen increased investments in Europe and Asia, reflecting concerns over regional security threats and geopolitical shifts. The war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East have further contributed to this trend.
Go deeper
- Why are European countries increasing their defense budgets?
- What impact does the Ukraine war have on global military expenditure?
- How will US spending trends affect international security?
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