Global military spending rises by 2.9% despite US decline, highest level since 2009

A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed on Monday that global military spending increased by 2.9% in 2025, despite a 7.5% decline in the United States, where President Donald Trump halted any new military financial aid to Ukraine.

The report explained that spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth and raising the share of military expenditure in global gross domestic product to 2.5%, its highest level since 2009.

The institute stated in its report: “Given the range of current crises, as well as the long-term military spending goals of many countries, this growth is likely to continue through 2026 and beyond.”

The top three military spenders — the United States, China, and Russia — accounted for a combined total of $1.48 trillion, or 51% of global spending.

The report noted that US military spending declined to $954 billion in 2025, mainly due to the lack of approval for any new military financial aid to Ukraine. Over the previous three years, total US military funding to Ukraine amounted to $127 billion.

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The institute said: “The decline in US military spending in 2025 is likely to be temporary.”

It added: “Spending approved by the US Congress for 2026 exceeded $1 trillion, representing a significant increase compared to 2025, and could rise further to $1.5 trillion in 2027.”

The main driver behind the rise in global spending was a 14% increase in Europe, bringing the total to $864 billion.

Russian and Ukrainian spending continued to grow for the fourth year of the war, while increases recorded by European NATO member states led to the strongest annual growth in Central and Western Europe since the end of the Cold War.

Israeli spending decreased by 4.9% to $48.3 billion, reflecting a reduction in the intensity of the war in Gaza in 2025, while Iranian spending declined for the second consecutive year, falling by 5.6% to $7.4 billion.