Global Defense Spending Surges to Unprecedented Heights Amid Rising Tensions

Global military spending reached a record $2.2 trillion in 2023, with conflicts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's military modernization contributing to global insecurity, according to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. NATO member states' defense spending accounted for about 50 percent of the total, with non-U.S. members increasing spending by 32 percent since 2014. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to boost their military budgets, with the United States remaining the world's largest military spender.