Al Jazeera on February 13 cited a newly released report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) based in London (UK) saying that global defense spending has increased by 9% to a near record level. 2.2 trillion USD by 2023.
It is expected that in 2024, global defense spending will continue to increase, in the context of the continuing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The IISS report also mentioned growing instability in the Arctic, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula, as well as the rise of military regimes in Africa’s Sahel region as factors. The cause contributes to bringing the world into “a volatile security environment”, forcing countries to strengthen military and defense guarantees. “The current security situation heralds what will likely be a more dangerous decade… An era of insecurity is resetting the global defense industry landscape, with the US and Europe ramping up production missiles and ammunition after decades of lack of investment,” the report stated.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Iranian military officials visit an exhibition of the Iranian Aerospace industry in the capital Tehran (Iran), September 2023. Photo: REUTERS
IISS published the above report just a few days after the US Republican Party’s leading candidate Donald Trump said he told the leader of a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that he would “encourage encourages” Russia to do “whatever it wants” in a NATO member state if that country fails to meet its financial obligations to this military alliance: “Britain will have to pay for its bills.” yourself,” Mr. Donald Trump announced at a campaign rally in South Carolina (USA) last week.
Global defense spending is also being boosted by rising tensions in Asia, where countries are arming themselves to improve their defense capabilities, and also by growing demand for defense products. modern technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and global positioning systems (GPS).
IISS said that lessons learned from the war in Ukraine are starting to influence defense plans in other countries, with many countries realizing the need to increase military production and build stockpiles. larger weapons in case of being forced to participate in a prolonged war.
HAI LE
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