Paris (Kubha News)— European countries have witnessed a record surge in military spending, according to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Total global military expenditure increased by 3.7 per cent in real terms in 2022, reaching a new high of $2240 billion, with Europe experiencing its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years.
The three largest spenders in 2022—the United States, China, and Russia—accounted for 56 per cent of the world total, with Europe playing a significant role in the surge. The invasion of Ukraine and tensions in East Asia have been key drivers behind the increased spending.
Military expenditure by states in Central and Western Europe totaled $345 billion in 2022, surpassing spending levels seen in 1989, as the cold war was ending. This marked a 30 per cent increase since 2013. Several states significantly increased their military spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Dr. Diego Lopes da Silva, Senior Researcher with SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, noted, “The invasion of Ukraine had an immediate impact on military spending decisions in Central and Western Europe. This included multi-year plans to boost spending from several governments. As a result, we can reasonably expect military expenditure in Central and Western Europe to keep rising in the years ahead.”
Russia’s military spending grew by an estimated 9.2 per cent in 2022, reaching around $86.4 billion, while Ukraine’s military spending surged to $44.0 billion—a 640 per cent increase, the highest single-year increase ever recorded in SIPRI data.
Despite high inflation, the United States remains the world’s biggest military spender, reaching $877 billion in 2022—39 percent of total global military spending. Dr. Nan Tian, Senior Researcher with SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, explained, “The increase in the USA’s military spending in 2022 was largely accounted for by the unprecedented level of financial military aid it provided to Ukraine.”