Military spending in the world is still rising, reaching an all-time highest peak of $2,443 billion in 2023. The 6.8% year-on-year growth is a direct consequence of the increasing involvement, directly or indirectly, of the major military powers. Estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), reported by the Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, show that humanity is dramatically approaching the danger of a global war.

The purchase of arms and armaments by the United States grew by 2.3% to $916 billion, confirming the country at the top of the world ranking with 37% of global military spending. In China, in second place with 296 billion (12% of the total), the increase was 6%, while in Russia it was even 24%, a leap due to the war in Ukraine that brought it to 109 billion. There were obviously big increases in the invaded Ukraine (plus 51%, 64.8 billion) and in neighbouring Poland (plus 75%), but also in Israel (plus 24%).

Global tensions led India to spend a further 4.3%, the fourth country in the world for military spending with 83.6 billion dollars, a percentage similar to that of Saudi Arabia, which reached 75.8 billion, taking the fifth place (AsiaNews). Then in Japan there was a plus 11% and in Europe, driven mainly by Eastern Europe, a plus 16%, the highest annual growth in the region in the post-Cold War period. With a total expenditure of $51.6 billion, Africa saw an increase of 2.1% (Nigrizia), with Algeria registering a plus 76% ($18.3 billion). Smaller but soaring amounts are estimated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (plus 105%) and South Sudan (plus 78%).

The global increase alone in 2023 of more than two hundred billion almost equals the total of global public aid to development in the same year. The militarist approach to solving the world's problems is creating a dangerous escalation.

See, La spesa militare nel mondo continua a crescere