These 23 Countries Have More Than Doubled Military Spending
Getty Images/John Cantlie
Bucking a global trend of reigning in military spending, 23 countries around the world at least doubled their military spending between 2004 and 2013, according to a fact sheet released by The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) last week.
Spending increases are largely clustered around the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Afghanistan topped the list of nations that have increased spending with a 557% spike, largely stemming from its efforts to create a national army as U.S. troops start leaving the region.
Azerbaijan ranks second in military spending with an increase of 493%, followed by Iraq with an increase of 284% in military spending.
Azerbaijan is locked in a territorial dispute with Armenia over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Iraq, meanwhile, is engaged in an escalating battle with jihadist and Sunni fighters in its western Anbar province.
Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia have also at least doubled their military spending over this stretch of time. The three countries are now the biggest spenders globally on defense after the U.S.
The following chart from SIPRI presents the 23 countries that have doubled their military spending since 2004:
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- "To sit and talk in the box...!" Kohli's message to critics as RCB wrecks GT in IPL Match 45
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market