SIPRI report: military expenditures stand at a new high

In the past year, States have invested so much money into the military since 1988. According to the peace research Institute, SIPRI, particularly the US and China spent significantly more.

By Udo Schmidt, ARD-Studio Stockholm

1,82 trillion dollars have been spent worldwide in the past year for military purposes. This is the highest level since the end of the Cold war.

This result, says SIPRI Director Aude Fleurant, wasn't surprised: "That was displayed by the international constellations, by the crises in many regions of the world. At the same time, many States are modernizing their Arsenal of weapons. This increases the costs for new weapons systems and global acts of war."

the United States remain the leader

Under President Trump has risen in the United States, the military spending in 2018.

not surprisingly, the USA are by far at the top. 649 billion dollars the Americans have spent in the last year for their military. This leading position is due not only to the Trump effect, says Fleurant.

The modernization efforts have, of course, contributed to the high expenditure, but: "Some of the plans date back to the time before Donald Trump and the Obama administration. In addition, many of the modernizations that have been recently decided to play, of course, in the growth of the expenditure a large role." It is now a lot to development costs for new systems.

China Also invests heavily

In second place, China follows with $ 250 billion. The Chinese, Fleurant, would keep the political default, not more than two percent of the gross national product for military purposes. "If there is a strong growth in China, increasing military spending accordingly, and Vice versa."

Saudi Arabia, India, and France spending in the Ranking of the world's military. Germany, with 49.5 billion dollars in eighth place. From 2009 to 2018, the German military spending according to SIPRI by nine percent.