"Rising Global Instability: Record Defense Spending and Tensions Signal Dangerous Era"

A new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies warns of a "dangerous decade" marked by increasing global instability and rising military spending in response to conflicts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Hamas attack on Israel, and China's assertiveness in the South China Sea. The report highlights tensions in the Arctic, North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the rise of military regimes in Africa as contributing to a deteriorating security environment. Global defense spending rose 9% to $2.2 trillion last year, with NATO members increasing spending by 32% since 2014. The report also notes that lessons from the war in Ukraine are influencing military planning in other countries, leading to a shift from a "just-in-time" to a "just-in-case" approach.